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In a landmark achievement in high-altitude medical care and humanitarian outreach, the Indian Army successfully conducted a four-day Advanced Surgical Eye Camp, 'Op Netra 1.0,' at 153 General Hospital, Leh from April 27-30, 2026. The camp was inaugurated by GOC 14 Corps, Lt General Hitesh Bhalla.
A testament to seamless civil-military cooperation, the camp facilitated screening of a total 950 patients from across seven districts of Ladakh, including remote areas of Chushul, Hanle, Durbuk, Demchok, Fukche, Drass, Zanskar, Batalik, Chumathang, and Turtuk. The surgical team, led by Brigadier (Dr.) Sanjay Kumar Mishra successfully performed 214 specialised procedures, including 197 complex cataract surgeries and 10 vitreo-retinal interventions, along with advanced procedures such as Glued Intraocular Lens implantation, Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, vitrectomy, pterygium excision, and intraocular lens repositioning and restored vision of 15 complete visually impaired patients.
A key highlight of the operation was the launch of the indigenously developed Op Netra App by 153 General Hospital. It helps in streamlining patient management by enabling end-to-end digitization of records, enhancing diagnostic accuracy, and automating surgical scheduling through QR code-based identification, thereby ensuring patient safety and operational efficiency in a high-volume, high-altitude setting.
This initiative contributes to the ongoing nationwide effort that has delivered over 2,500 sight-restoring surgeries since November 2025, following similar camps conducted in Udhampur, Dehradun, Jaipur, Bagdogra, and Gorakhpur. The mission was further enabled by the Indian Air Force through the airlift of advanced medical equipment, ensuring that the standard of care matched the highest benchmarks.
The camp concluded with a closing ceremony attended by the Lt Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, V.K. Saxena and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command Lt General Pratik Sharma. The successful conduct of Op Netra 1.0 under the leadership of Director General Armed Forces Medical Services, Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, reinforces the Government's unwavering commitment to the principle of “Nation First” and to ensuring that no citizen, regardless of geography, is deprived of essential healthcare services.
