Goa Medical College Advances Corneal Transplant Centre Application
In a significant development for healthcare infrastructure in Goa, the Goa Medical College's (GMC) Department of Ophthalmology has formally applied for a license to register as a corneal transplant centre. This announcement was made by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane through a written reply presented in the state legislative assembly.
New Eye Bank Establishment Underway
The state government, in active collaboration with GMC's ophthalmology department, is currently working towards establishing a new eye bank facility. This initiative comes after several years during which Goa remained without a functional eye bank. Minister Rane clarified that the previous Rotary Eye Bank's license was not renewed due to non-compliance with regulatory standards set by the Eye Bank Association of India and the National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) guidelines, specifically concerning infrastructure and manpower requirements.
Strategic Partnerships and Infrastructure Development
To support this initiative, GMC has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lions International Eye Bank based in Bengaluru. This partnership will ensure a steady supply of corneal tissues necessary for transplantation procedures once the centre becomes operational.
Substantial progress has already been made in terms of infrastructure development. Under the National Health Mission, an allocation of Rs 40 lakh was sanctioned for this project. GMC has utilized Rs 38.7 lakh of this amount to procure essential medical equipment, including:
- A specular microscope costing Rs 31.4 lakh
- A slit lamp priced at Rs 2.5 lakh
- A biosafety cabinet valued at Rs 4.4 lakh
- A refrigerator for Rs 54,900
The remaining balance of Rs 1.3 lakh has been earmarked for Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) equipment activities and the acquisition of an additional refrigerator with temperature monitoring capabilities specifically designed for storing eye tissues.
Personnel Recruitment and Regulatory Process
Critical to the centre's operation is the recruitment and training of specialized personnel. Interviews were conducted on January 8 for positions including an eye bank technician and an eye bank counsellor. The results of these interviews are currently awaited, marking a crucial step toward operational readiness.
The regulatory process for the corneal transplant centre license is advancing systematically. An inspection for the license application took place in December 2025. According to Minister Rane, the final decision on the application will be made following the receipt of the inspection report from a specially constituted committee, established through Order No 5/15/2025-II/PHD/2522 dated November 13.
Existing Private Sector Facilities
While GMC works toward establishing its centre, the private healthcare sector in Goa already has operational corneal transplant facilities. Heathway Hospital and ASG Eye Hospital are both registered as corneal transplant centres. These institutions have established MoUs with various eye banks across the country to facilitate their transplantation services.
This development represents a substantial enhancement of Goa's ophthalmological healthcare capabilities, potentially reducing dependency on out-of-state facilities for corneal transplantation services and improving accessibility for local patients in need of vision-restoring procedures.
