Then & Now: Two Decades of Transforming Eye Care in Bhutan
In our 30th anniversary year, join us as Cure Blindness Project reflects on our past while looking toward the future through Then & Now, a monthly series highlighting milestones made possible with our partners. This edition explores Bhutan’s remarkable transformation—from a single ophthalmologist in 1999 to a nationwide eye care system—made possible through decades of collaboration, innovation, and commitment to curing avoidable blindness.
In 1999, Dr. Kunzang Getshen, Bhutan’s only trained ophthalmologist at the time, invited Dr. Geoff Tabin to bring the Himalayan Cataract Project (HCP), now known as Cure Blindness Project, to the small South Asian kingdom. Inspired by HCP’s success in reducing blindness in Nepal, Dr. Getshen saw an opportunity to transform eye care in Bhutan.
The following year, the Royal Government of Bhutan, committed to improving eye health nationwide, formalized a partnership with HCP, to support training, equipment, and programs that have since strengthened the country's eye care system.
For nearly 25 years, Cure Blindness Project has been Bhutan’s leading eye care NGO, driving impactful change. The organization has supported the expansion of the country’s first ophthalmology residency program, increasing access to both primary and specialized eye care across the Kingdom. A milestone came in 2018 with the inauguration of the Gyalyum Kesang Choeden Wangchuck National Eye Centre, a 27,000-square-foot clinical training facility made possible through support from Cure Blindness Project, the Wen Giving Foundation, and the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology. This state-of-the-art center stands as the cornerstone of Bhutan’s eye health system.
In its 30th anniversary year, Cure Blindness Project is proud to join the World Health Organization and Bhutan’s Ministry of Health in developing the new five-year National Eye Health Strategy. This initiative marks a critical step toward building sustainable, coordinated eye care systems nationwide, ensuring that quality care reaches every corner of Bhutan.
Cure Blindness Project’s enduring commitment—spanning over two decades—continues to bring the gift of sight to the people of Bhutan, fostering a brighter, healthier future.
