The fifth Grameen Eye Hospital, built under the initiative of Grameen Health Care Services Limited (GHS), has been officially inaugurated in Rajshahi.
The hospital's own building at Maskatadighi in Katakhali was opened recently, bringing GHS's total number of eye hospitals in the country to five.
Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus joined virtually to officially inaugurate the hospital, said the Yunus Centre on Sunday.
He urged those involved to work towards making the Grameen Eye Hospital a unique institution in eye care services in Bangladesh.
At the newly built hospital, patients can receive eye examinations using advanced equipment and specialist consultations for only 100 taka. Patients attending outreach camps receive these services free of charge.
The hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art medical technologies, including Alcon's Centurion Phaco Machine, Carl Zeiss YAG Laser and Microscope, and Topcon OCT and Visual Field Analyzer, ensuring advanced and quality eye care for all patients.
Fast Track Service facilities have also been introduced for those who prefer shorter wait times, and patients will be able to receive modern cataract surgeries and various specialised eye care treatments according to their needs.
At the inauguration, Grameen Group Chairman Md. Ashraful Hasan unveiled the hospital's nameplate and planted a mango sapling as a symbol of environmental conservation.
He noted that while the initial three-story building , approximately 36,000 square feet, opens with 10 beds, it will later be developed into a full six-story eye hospital.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Md. Mahfuzur Rahman Riton, Administrator of Rajshahi City Corporation; Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman, Divisional Director of Health, Rajshahi; and Md. Forhad Hossain, Assistant Deputy Director of Fire Service and Civil Defence, Rajshahi, along with other distinguished guests.
All highly appreciated the Grameen Group's contribution to healthcare development and humanitarian services.
Prof. S. Shamsul Haque Ahmed, Managing Director of GHS; board members Prof. S.M. Huzzatul Islam Latifee, Nazneen Sultana, Dr. Lutfar Rahman, A.K.M. Moinuddin Chowdhury; and advisers Abdul Hai Khan and Lamiya Morshed were also present at the event along with other officials.
After the ceremony, guests inspected the hospital's infrastructure and medical equipments.
GHS is a social business enterprise founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, and has long worked to ensure equitable, affordable, and modern eye care services for people across Bangladesh.
The first Grameen Eye Hospital was established in Bogura in 2007, followed by Rupatali, Barisal in May 2009, Thakurgaon in March 2013, and Satkhira in 2020. In addition, GHS operates 20 Vision Centers across the country to deliver quality services to disadvantaged and rural communities.
Following Prof Yunus's "Three Zeros" philosophy - zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero carbon emissions - GHS is implementing sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives in healthcare.
With this goal, GHS plans to convert all its hospitals and Vision Centers to solar-powered green energy systems by December 2026.
Under "Vision 2030," GHS is working to provide quality eye care to the country's disadvantaged and marginal communities, with a focus on women's empowerment, climate responsibility, and decentralisation of health services.
By December 2026, GHS intends to open eight new women-led Green Vision Centers, and by 2030 to establish five more eye hospitals, one tertiary eye hospital, and 40 Vision Centers.
So far, GHS has served over 3.33 million patients, of whom 26 percent received care completely free of charge.
More than 200,000 surgeries have been successfully performed, 51 percent of which were free or subsidised.