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Govt approves Rs 756 cr scheme to treat cataract patients

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
With an aim to free India from cataract by 2022, the government has approved a Rs 756 crore scheme to treat over 700 lakh such patients in the next five years.

"Big relief to cataract patients : Modi govt approves scheme of Rs 756 crore for the treatment of 786 lakh cataract patients in 5 years," BJP official twitter handle said, which was re-tweeted by Union Health Minister J P Nadda.

The scheme would render Rs 2,000 as financial assistance for each operation, including cost of lenses. In addition to it, a mobile application will be developed to bring the government, private doctors, clinics and NGOs together for monitoring the endeavour.
 

The Health Ministry sources said the plan was to put a stop to blindness among people due to cataract and that giving it a time frame of five years would lead to a "focused approach."

"This has been a part of the national blindness control programme. However, this particular plan is being drawn up which will make it more focused," they said.

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First Published: Feb 28 2017 | 10:22 PM IST

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