New Eye Hospital Opens in Bhutan
The 16-bed facility will offer specialized eye care services to the entire country
On October 29, HCP Co-Founders, Dr. Geoff Tabin, Dr. Sanduk Ruit and CEO, Job Heintz attended the inauguration of the Gyalyum Kesang Choeden Wangchuck National Eye Centre - the new eye hospital in the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, on the eastern edge of the Himalayas. The hospital was inaugurated by Her Majesty Gyalyum Kesang Choeden Wangchuck, the Queen Grandmother of Bhutan.
Made possible by a magnanimous gift from WEN Giving, the 16-bed tertiary hospital will offer a variety of specialized in-patient and out-patient eye care services with three operating theaters that will tend to the population of the entire country, a total of almost 1 million people.
The new hospital is a collaboration between HCP, Dr. Sanduk Ruit and the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, the Royal Government of Bhutan and WEN Giving. In addition to serving the entire country, the hospital will also provide clinical training for eye care providers to further strengthen the national eye care system of Bhutan.
Following the opening, Co-founder Dr. Geoff Tabin stated, “The gross national eye happiness in Bhutan is phenomenal.”
The Himalayan Cataract Project has worked in Bhutan since 2000. At that time, Dr. Kunzang Getshen was the only ophthalmologist in the country. With early support from generous donor Mr. Mark Daniell, HCP partnered with
the Royal Government to develop a national eye health care program. Over the past two decades, HCP has supported specialized training for all eight practicing ophthalmologists and dozens of paramedical staff and provided support for outreach services throughout the rural and mountainous regions.
HCP is thrilled to be a part of this historic achievement and looks forward to taking another step to end needless blindness across the world.
