KSOS News Detail

As you are aware KSOS is starting Low Vision Centers in all districts in Kerala as a part of its Low Vision Project which was launched during Drishti 2019 at Kannur. KSOS will bear the expenses of training optometrists at Aravind Madurai and help partner hospitals to set up Low Vision Centres. Initially 3 Hospitals from three districts in three zones (North , Central and South )will be taken. North Zone:Kasargod/Kannur/ Kozhikode/Wyanad/ Malappuram. Central Zone :Thrissur/ Ernakulam/Kottayam/ Idukki/Palakad. South Zone. Alappuzha / Pathanamthitta/Trivandrum/ Kollam. The staff from these hospitals will be trained for one month at Aravind Madurai. Once Low Vision Centres in these hospitals are set up staff from hospitals from other districts will be trained here.

Participating Institution/centers:

• The institution will sign an MoU with KSOS. This will be a bilateral agreement with KSOS to run this low vision centre with commitment.
• The institution will provide a) Space b) Service of trained personal in low vision c) Consultant in Medical Retina (full time/part time). They should have a) OCT b) HFA. KSOS will not reimburse any overhead charges incurred by the institution
• The centre will be named KSOS – Name of the hospital- Low Vision project and the name will be visibly displayed in front of Low Vision Clinic, at a prominent place.
• The management personnel of the selected institutions/hospitals will have to attend an orientation course regarding the functioning of low vision centre.
• The trained optometrists will enter into a bilateral agreement with service provider hospital and KSOS to serve the designated centre for a period of 12 months after completing the training.
• They will train the other optometrists deputed by KSOS MoU signed institutions in low vision service. The food and accommodation cost of the trainee for that period of one month, if from a different centre, will be met by KSOS.
• Institutions are allowed to charge their existing consultation fee; however, this fee may be subsidized for referred patients from government hospitals
•  The centres are allowed to charge for the optical aids at a rate which covers at least the actual cost. A subsidized rate may be worked out for patients being referred from government hospitals.
• Any optical aid sold if found to have manufacturing defect has to be replaced without any cost to the client
• Details of patient visits, diagnosis, low vision optical aid dispensed, and income & expenditure statement will have to be forwarded to KSOS at the end of every month before 15th of succeeding month

Requesting hospitals interested in joining the project to inform the General Secretary of KSOS before December 15th, 2018.