Grameen Health care Services Ltd

      Grameen Health Care Services Ltd.

Background

Grameen Health Care Services Ltd. (GHS) is a notable member of Grameen Family of companies, pioneering the concept of "Social Business Initiative" of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. It was established and registerd  in 2006 under Bangladesh Company Act, 1994. Authorized capital of BDT 500 million of which paid up capital is BDT 300 million. Grameen Telecom Trust, Grameen Telecom,Grameen Shakti (Grameen Energy) and Grameen Kalyan (Grameen Wellbeing) are the share holders of GHS. GHS has been established with the view to contributing in health sector of Bangladesh, to fulfill the alarming needs of health care services especially to the vast hard core low income population living in the remote rural areas of Bangladesh.

Activities

Understanding the grave situation of eye care services, GHS prioritized it and undertook interventions for the same which resulted in establishment of sophisticated  eye hospitals in Bangladesh. GHS is currently operating 04 Eye Hospitals with a view to provide eye care services especially to the poor and destitute. GHS established it’s first hospital at Bogra, second at Barisal and 3rd hospital at Thakurgaon and the fourth one is at Satkhira. These hospitals are addressing blindness problem of Bangladesh by following comprehensive eye care treatment protocol of the patients. Patients are getting comprehensive eye examination services by the qualified Ophthalmologist by paying BDT 100 ($0.92 at the hospital and the same services are provided at free of cost in the Community Outreach Programs conducted by GHS’s hospitals which are held at remote and rural area. Hospitals are performing eye surgeries including cataract surgery. Cost of the cataract surgeries BDT 5,000($46.30) to BDT 75,000($694.44)) depending upon IOL and technique using in the surgery. Other eye surgeries are provided at BDT 1,000 ($9.25 to BDT 5,500 ($50.92). Surgeries are performing free of cost for the poor and destitute patient.

 

Basic Information of Four Eye Hospitals (Up to June-2023)

Description

 

Grameen G.C. Eye Hospital's

Bogura

Barishal

Thakurgaon

Satkhira

Total

Date of Operation

1st Nov'07

1st May'09

14th March, 2013

28th Sept 20

 

Population within the catchments

3.5 million

3.04 million

2.36 million

2.08 million

 

Catchments Area (sq.km)

2920 sq. km

3,534 sq. km

3,213 sq km

3,858 sq km

 

Floor Spaces at the Hospitals

34,400 sq. ft

18,000 sq. ft

22,000 sq. ft

9,422 sq.ft

 

Work force

114

84

57

35

290

Patient Treated (Total)

11,45,722

8,82,420

4,00,417

88,461

25,17,020

a) Paying

8,40,900

7,23,616

2,65,920

50,118

18,80,554

b) Free

3,04,822

1,58,804

1,34,497

38,343

6,36,466

Total Camp Organized

1,650

765

888

118

3,421

Total Cataract Surgery Performed

58,168

31,747

16,323

2,211

1,08,499

a) Free of Cost Surgery

5,034

6,834

2,843

716

15,427

b) Subsidized Surgery

9,685

2,221

949

39

12,894

c) Camp Surgery

21,650

4,505

9,480

872

36,507

Other Eye Surgery performed

11,644

8,753

4,884

730

26,011

Total Surgery Performed

69,812

40,500

21,207

2,941

1,34,460

Spectacle Sales

2,14,507

1,99,167

75,826

17,528

5,07,028

Medicine Sales

5,54,140

5,99,367

2,43,412

39,007

14,35,926

Impact:

Awarness building:

GHS Hospitals are giving priorities on eye health education program. Counselors of GHS hospitals are providing eye care information and guideline to the patient which helps them to take right decision about their diseases.

 Preventive measure:

Hospitals are providing comprehensive eye care which reduces prevalence eye diseases. As such prevalence of diseases decreases from 1.7 to 1.3 by 03 years.

Prevention of Blindness:

Services of the hospitals are strongly helping to eliminate blindness of Bangladesh especially to catchment areas of the hospitals. The well off patients are getting treatment as per their desire on payment, while poor are getting quality treatment free of cost  from the hospitals and Outreach program.

 

Achievements:

Job Creation:

GHS hospitals are creating job opportunity for skilled and unskilled workers. Hospitals are providing training to the unskilled girls to be skilled in eye healthcare and also the skilled are developing in sub specialty areas.

Woman Empowerment:

GHS is giving emphasis to recruit rural poor girls for empowering the women. As such around 70% Staff of GHS are female. It is one of the best working places for the rural poor girls/women.

Creation of economic activities:

Hospitals have created new economic activities in the vicinity as new shops and market are being constructed to meet the demand of the patients and staffs. GHS hospitals are situated away from the center of the city of respective area.

Way Forword:

 

  • Establishment of chain eye Hospitals at various locations of the country where qualified service providers are not available.
  • Introduction of Super specialty Eye care services (Glaucoma, Retina and Cornea etc.) in the existing hospitals.
  • Establishment of training center for Doctors and health professionals.
  • Establishment of Vision centers/Consultation centers to ensure service at the door steps of rural people.
  • Establishment of Mother & Child Care Centers.