10th August 2009
Dear Club President,
UPDATE ON LIONS EYE CLINIC
I take much pleasure to update you and your club members on the progress of the
Lions Eye Clinic since its official launch on the 7th February 2009 by the Minister of
Health, Y.B. Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Special Guest 1st Vice International
President Lion Sid Scruggs.
The Lions Eye Clinic is open 5 days per week from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, with operations
carried out on two days of the week. As at 6th August 2009, the Clinic has successfully
completed 60 cataract operations. The target is to achieve up to 10 operations per
week. This can only happen when the Clinic has a fulltime Ophthalmologist. Currently
the operations are performed by Consultant Ophthalmologist Dr. Gomathy Arumugam,
formerly the Head of Ophthalmology Services with the Ministry of Health. Dr M.
Jayaraman is the resident doctor who conducts patient consultation, screening of cases
and referral for cataract operations. The Clinic is also staffed with a receptionist and
two full time nurses.
The facility at the Lions Eye Clinic is on par with that of private hospitals. The cataract
operation performed at the Clinic employs the advanced technique known as phaco
surgery as opposed to the conventional method. Private clinics and hospitals normally
charge in the region of RM2,500 to RM4,000 or more for such cataract operation. In
contrast, the Lions Eye Clinic offers a subsidized fee of RM2,000 to the public who can
afford to pay for the operation. For patients who are financially less well off, the Clinic
accepts lower fee ranging from RM500 to RM1,500 according to their ability to pay.
Finally for those who are very poor such as elderly patients from old folk homes, the
Clinic waives all fees.
Lions Clubs are encouraged to sponsor needy cases to the Clinic at a subsidized rates
ranging from RM500 to RM1,000 per case to cover some of the operation costs. On
average, the cost for each cataract operation with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is
RM850, excluding overhead costs such as surgeon and staff fee and other support
services.
In order to sustain the Clinic on the long term, we cannot afford to offer free operations
for everyone. We need to have approximately half the cases paying for their operation.
It is for this reason that Lions Clubs are encouraged to sponsor cases to the Clinic
according to their ability and status of their project fund.
The Lions Eye Clinic Foundation managed by a Board of Trustees has been set up to
ensure the proper management and operation of the Clinic. The Foundation is
registered with Registrar of Companies. The Clinic is supervised by a Management
Committee headed by IPDG Dr JP Kamalanathan and PDG Wong Chang Wai as
Deputy Chairman and members comprising of senior Lions. All applications for
subsidised operation will be reviewed by a subcommittee who will vet the information
provided and make recommendations to the Management Committee.
You are encouraged to visit our website at www.lionseyeclinic.org for more information
on the progress and activities of the Clinic, and to download forms.
I wish to record my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to you and your Club members for
the support and generous contribution which made the Lions Eye Clinic a reality.
Thanks to your support, many poor and elderly Malaysians will now have their sights
restored and experience an improved quality of life.
We look forward to your continued support of the Clinic in the future.
Thank you.
Yours in Lionism,
Dr. J.P. Kamalanathan
Chairman, Lions Eye Clinic Foundation
Lions Eye Clinic
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