Expressnews
Chennai, September 2023: Maxivision Super Speciality Eye Hospitals (“Maxivision”), one of India’s leading and fastest-growing chain of private eye care hospitals signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Tamil Nadu today to set up eye hospitals across the state under the project Velicham. The MoU was signed in the presence of Mr. M. K. Stalin, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu; Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa, Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Tamil Nadu; Dr GSK Velu, Promoter & Chairman, Maxivison; Mr. A Ganesan, Director, Maxivison; Mr. VS Sudheer, Chief Executive Officer, Maxivison; and Dr. Shibu Varkey, Regional Medical Director Maxivison; today at the Chief Minister’s office.
Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in Tamil Nadu, accounting for about 82 percent of all the cases among different causes. Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy and other causes comprise six percent each as the causes of blindness as per the Tamil Nadu Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness and Diabetic Retinopathy survey. With an objective to cater primary eye care to large underserved people, in deep rural pockets of the state, the government launched the project under the Public Private Partnership model with Maxivison Super Speciality Eye Hospitals.
Founded in 1996, Maxivision operates 42 centres in six states across South and West India, with a leadership position in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The company offers a full suite of eye care services, including cataract surgery, LASIK and ReLEx Smile treatments, treatments for retinal issues and glaucoma, oculoplasty, as well as neonatal and paediatric eye care.
Dr GSK Velu, Promoter and Chairman of Maxivision Super Speciality Eye Hospitals, said, “We are pleased to join hands with the Government of Tamil Nadu to launch Project Velicham. As an immediate plan of action, Maxivision plans to open 20 to 30 comprehensive eye hospitals and 100 plus vision centres to cater to the increasing needs for high quality, standardised eye care services across Tamil Nadu in the next two years. Through this MoU we will invest ₹ 400 crores and employ over 2000 people in state of Tamil Nadu within the next three to four years. This collaboration with the Government of Tamil Nadu represents a significant milestone in our mission to make the latest technique and technology available at affordable cost to the larger section of the community.”
Mr Sudheer VS, Chief Executive Officer of Maxivision Super Speciality Eye Hospitals, said: “We are excited about the opportunities this partnership presents to enhance eye care services and make a positive impact on the health and lives of the people of Tamil Nadu. We look forward to the successful execution of this initiative and to setting new benchmarks in eye care excellence. As part of its CSR initiative, Maxivision will cater to the community Opthalmology needs and prevention of blindness initiatives in tier 3 and tier 4 towns and villages in close cooperation with Government of Tamil Nadu. With this we are planning to reach out to 12 lakh patients in the first year of our operations.”
Embargoed: To be used post the press conference
Dr. Shibu Varkey, Regional Medical Director of Maxivision Super Speciality Eye Hospitals said, “Maxivision will be launching its comprehensive state of the art eye hospitals across the state covering 12 cities viz Trichy, Salem, Tanjore, Perambalur, Kumbakonam, Erode, Madurai, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli, Nagerkoil, Coimbatore, Chennai with 15 super specialty eye hospitals and 20 Vision centres in rural areas connected by tele ophthalmology in next 6 months. In line with its vision of providing quality Eye care at affordable costs, deploying the best in class technologies & highly skilled Ophthalmologists & para medical professionals, over the past 27 years, Maxivision will commence its operations in Tamil Nadu to become one of the most reliable eye care provider in the state of Tamil Nadu. Additionally, through our eye care network, we will provide job orientated medical education, training, and research & development. We will also start 2 phaco training center and fellowships in Cataract and Retina in Tamil Nadu to train young surgeons on advanced surgical techniques.”
