As per 2020 estimates by International Association for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), in India, 270 million (2.7 Cr) people have vision loss, and of these 9.2 million (92 lakh) people were blind. With a large population ageing in the next few decades, this number will increase many fold. This will create a burden on economy and a big impact on living standards for everyone.
As part of it’s intervention to reduce this burden, PBMA’s H.V.Desai Eye Hospital management has a Eye Care Training Academy need to increase the number of institutionally qualified, clinically skilled man power of all members of the Eye Care service delivery team – including Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Ophthalmic Assistants, Opticians, Nursing and Operation Theatre staff, Community health workers and Eye Care Managers among others.
Poona Blind Men’s Association (PBMA) H. V. Desai Eye Hospital is a well-established, renowned tertiary eye hospital and educational institute in Pune, Maharashtra. Execution of various eye care programs requires constant supply of skilled and competent manpower. This Institute offers educational programs in Ophthalmology, Optometry and Allied Health programs with post-graduate, graduate and diploma programs which are accredited by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) and National Council for Vocational Training and Research (NCVRT).
The Institute has a team of accredited academic and experienced clinical faculty members in Ophthalmology and Optometry. The hospital has a high volume of patients across all age groups, who are examined and provided treatment options in all eye care procedures with well-equipped clinical facilities at the hospital. The Institute also offers short term courses in Eye Bank techniques and Eye Donation counselling.
In September 2023, the Institute was appointed as Regional Training Centre for Patient Communication which offers short term courses on Patient Communication for all medical and Hospital staff members. These programs are supported by ORBIS International.