Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

Tripura Vision Centres

last updated Jul 23, 2012

Overview

Implementing organization: 
IL&FS
Implementation Partner(s): 
Aravind Eye Care System
Legal Status: 
Public-private partnership
Year Launched: 
2007
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
20-60% (lower to lower-middle)

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Government
Technology Purpose: 
Extending Geographic Access

Scale

Personnel Employed: 
50-99
Number of Clients Served: 
128,200 patients screened
Replication: 
Observing the success and replicability of the Tripura tele-ophthalmologic project, the Planning Commission of India is contemplating to replicate the model in its 12th Five Year Plan.
Summary: 

In order to overcome the challenges of inadequate resources for ophthalmologic care in the state, the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Tripura, in 2007, initiated the Tripura Vision Centre - a tele-ophthalmology project that utilises information and communication technologies (ICT) to facilitate quality eye care to people residing in rural locations.

Key program components: 

The project has trained paramedical ophthalmic assistants located at each of the 40 Vision Centre (VC) in the state – one for each block. All the VCs are established on the premises of Community Information Centres (CICs), set up under National e-Governance Plan (NeGP). Establishing VCs adjacent to CICs served the purpose of leveraging existing infrastructure and the Tripura State Wide Area Network (TSWAN) connectivity, along with attracting locals who visit CICs for a host of citizen centric services provided.

The VCs are connected to the Indira Gandhi Memorial (IGM) Hospital in the state capital Agartala from where the ophthalmologists tele-consult the patients. Ophthalmic assistants at the VC screen the patients and enter information in the database. The assistants also capture the images of the eye which are uploaded to the database along with the patient’s history. With the help of TSWAN, relevant information is transferred to the referral centre, where the images are diagnosed and the modality of treatment is prescribed. This service is available to the rural poor free of cost. Only patients requiring tertiary or secondary care support are required to visit the hospital, thus saving tangible amount of time and money for the patient.

The successful implementation of the tele-opthalmic project in Tripura is reflected in the number of patients being screened during the period April 2007- July 2011 - 128,200.

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