Himalaya Eye Hospital serves 247,585 patients in a year

By Our Correspondent, Lekhanath, Mar. 5: In the past year, Himalaya Eye Hospital of Gharipatan, Pokhara, provided healthcare services to 247,585 patients.

The hospital, which is six kilometers from the Pokhara International Airport, was established 33 years ago.

Of the total patients, 132,000 received outpatient service, 32,599 in the specialist clinic, and 24,424 through the pediatric eye care service in the year. 

According to hospital operator Surendra Thapamagar, they witnessed an increase of 27 per cent in patient numbers compared to the previous year.

The hospital has provided effective services in complex fields such as cornea, retina, glaucoma, and oculoplasty.  Out of 11,888 surgeries performed in the hospital in a year, 8,154 were cataract surgeries. This is about 70 per cent of the total surgeries.

This hospital ran at least 223 eye health camps in 2025. It has provided health services to more than 4.3 million people during its 33 years of service, since its establishment in 1993.

According to Thapamagar, there are 125 employees working currently, including doctors. During its 33 years of service, the hospital has performed nearly 2.7 million eye examinations and 135,633 patients have undergone complex and specialized surgeries.

Along with treatment, the hospital is conducting various educational programmes through the ‘Himalaya Eye Institute’ to produce skilled manpower needed for eye health in Nepal.

There are currently 87 students studying in the four-year Bachelor of Optometry programme, which began in 2018 in affiliation with Pokhara University.

“The major goal of the hospital is to make Nepal self-reliant in the field of eye health by advancing research and education alongside quality treatment,” stated Dr. Babita Gurung, Medical Superintendent at the hospital.