Telangana Govt to Use Public Buses for Cornea Transport, Aims to Boost Donations

Quick Summary

• Cornea donation Initiative: Sarojini Devi eye Hospital in Hyderabad plans to transport donated corneas from Telangana’s rural districts to its eye bank through Telangana State Road transport Corporation (TGSRTC) buses.
• Harvesting Locations: Corneas will be harvested at government medical colleges attached to hospitals in Siddipet, Nizamabad, Adilabad, and Warangal.
• Transport Procedure: Tissues will be stored in preservative solution within ice boxes and handed over to bus drivers traveling to Hyderabad. The Eye Bank staff will collect them upon arrival.
• Challenges & Network Growth: Currently, cornea harvesting is limited to hospitals near hyderabad. A new network called ‘Network to Sight’ aims at expanding collection across the state.
• Performance Statistics: Approximately 50 cornea transplantations were performed at S.D.Eye hospital between April and August 2025.
• PG Training Program: Ophthalmology postgraduate students are trained in tissue harvesting and handling techniques under sterile environments for better hospital capacities.
• Technical Guidelines & Awareness drive: Corneas can be harvested up to six hours post-mortem with family member consent; tissues must be stored under a maintained cold chain during transportation.

Eye donation inquiries can be made by contacting S.D. Eye Hospital’s Eye Bank number: 9121433434.

Indian Opinion Analysis

This initiative represents a proactive step towards addressing the significant challenge of corneal blindness in India,especially rural areas where access is limited. By integrating government transport (TGSRTC buses) with healthcare services, it promotes cost-effective logistical solutions that could inspire replication across other states facing similar challenges.

Training postgraduate ophthalmology students enhances institutional capacity while creating a sustainable model for rural healthcare improvements-an essential move given India’s growing need for donor tissues amidst logistical constraints outside urban centers. Moreover, maintaining strict cold chain protocols ensures tissue viability during transportation – reflecting well-planned execution.

Though, success depends on scaling the operation statewide and ensuring sustained collaboration between healthcare facilities and transport authorities without compromising timeliness or tissue quality standards.

Read more: The Hindu