HoR discusses Bill on Tilganga Eye University

Kathmandu, July 25: The House of Representatives (HoR) endorsed a proposal, seeking consideration on the Bill on Tilganga Eye University, 2081.

The Bill was originated in the Upper House and sent to HoR for discussion.     

Speaker Devraj Ghimire announced that the Bill presented by the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, Raghuji Panta, was endorsed unanimously.     

During the deliberations on the Bill, Yogesh Kumar Bhattarai, lauded the development Nepal made in treatment of eye. "An eye university is imperative in Nepal to make the eye treatment specialties broader. I welcome the Bill," he said, appreciating the role played by ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit in the eye treatment.     

Gyanendra Bahadur Karki remembered the contribution of Dr Sanduk Ruit who he said had conducted eye surgery free of cost to over 100 thousand people. So, it is commendable initiative to open the Tilgang university under his leadership, he added.     

Bimala Subedi underlined the need for production of competent workforce from the Tilganga Eye University. There are separate standard within a university so an umbrella act is also needed, she reminded.     

Moreover, Basudev Ghimire said Nepal should be established as a hub of eye treatment.     

In response to the queries raised during the discussion, Minister Panta said the Tilganga Eye University being set up in Nepal would help provide service to eye patients in an affordable and convenience manner.     

"A thorough discussion was held with Dr Ruit on how the Bill could be made effective, and what are the potentials Nepal has on eye treatment. Even the draft for bringing an umbrella act on it was readied," Minister said, adding that most of the eye patients (65%) were suffering from cataract in Nepal. Nepal has the potential to take a lead in South Asia in eye treatment.     

Moreover, even the students from abroad would come to study in Nepal once the Eye University is established here, according to him.     

The next meeting of the HoR would be held on August 4.(RSS)