{"id":108492,"date":"2026-07-14T13:13:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T13:13:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/2026\/07\/14\/unihealth-launches-comprehensive-eye-care-and-ophthalmology-services-at-umc-victoria-hospital-uganda\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T13:13:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T13:13:48","slug":"unihealth-launches-comprehensive-eye-care-and-ophthalmology-services-at-umc-victoria-hospital-uganda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/2026\/07\/14\/unihealth-launches-comprehensive-eye-care-and-ophthalmology-services-at-umc-victoria-hospital-uganda\/","title":{"rendered":"UniHealth Launches Comprehensive Eye Care and Ophthalmology Services at UMC Victoria Hospital, Uganda"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 14:<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0Unihealth Hospitals Limited (NSE: UNIHEALTH | INE0PRF01011)<\/strong>, an integrated healthcare delivery platform operating across India and East Africa, today announced the successful commissioning of a dedicated Eye Care and Ophthalmology Department at UMC Victoria Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. The department has completed its first cohort of cataract surgeries, all performed successfully and without complication, marking a significant step in the Company\u2019s strategy to expand access to specialised, high-quality healthcare across East Africa.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The launch follows closely on the Board\u2019s approval on July 3, 2026, of a strategic share-swap transaction to raise UniHealth\u2019s ownership of Victoria Hospital Limited from 50.00% to 99.81%. Taken together, the two developments mark a coordinated phase in the Company\u2019s East Africa strategy: consolidating economic ownership of one of the Group\u2019s most profitable overseas assets while simultaneously investing in the clinical capability that will expand its earnings base.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The commissioning of the Ophthalmology Department equips UMC Victoria Hospital with dedicated surgical infrastructure, specialized diagnostic equipment, and a trained clinical team to diagnose and treat a wide range of eye conditions \u2014 from routine vision care to complex surgical interventions. The first set of cataract procedures were completed without complication, with all patients reporting improved vision during post-operative review.<\/p>\n

Addressing a Critical Health Need\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Cataracts are among the most common causes of vision impairment in Uganda and across sub-Saharan Africa, disproportionately affecting older adults and often going untreated due to limited access to specialized ophthalmic surgical services. By establishing in-house eye surgery capability, UMC Victoria Hospital directly addresses this gap, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances or seek care abroad.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The initial cohort of cataract surgeries was performed using established, proven surgical techniques, with the hospital\u2019s ophthalmology team working alongside experienced surgeons to ensure safety, precision, and strong clinical outcomes as the programme scales up.<\/p>\n

Building Toward a Full-Spectrum Eye Care Centre\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The launch of cataract surgery services is the first phase in a broader strategic plan to develop UMC Victoria Hospital into a leading regional centre for eye care. Planned areas of expansion include:\u00a0<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Phacoemulsification (Phaco) Surgery:<\/strong>\u00a0Introduction of modern, minimally invasive phaco cataract surgery, enabling faster recovery times, smaller incisions, and improved outcomes for patients.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
    • Retinal Surgery Services:<\/strong>\u00a0Development of vitreoretinal surgical capability to treat conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, and macular disorders \u2014 conditions that currently require referral outside the region.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        \n
      • Glaucoma Management:<\/strong>\u00a0Comprehensive diagnostic and surgical services for early detection and treatment of glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
          \n
        • Paediatric Ophthalmology:<\/strong>\u00a0Specialized services for children, including screening and treatment of congenital and developmental eye conditions.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
            \n
          • Advanced Diagnostic Imaging:<\/strong>\u00a0Investment in equipment such as optical coherence tomography (OCT), fundus imaging, and biometry to support precise diagnosis and surgical planning.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
              \n
            • Outreach and Screening Camps:<\/strong>\u00a0Community-based vision screening programmes to identify patients in need of care early, particularly in underserved areas of Uganda and the wider East African region.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              This clinical expansion is closely linked to a significant corporate development. On July 3, 2026, the Board of Directors of UniHealth approved the acquisition of an additional 49.81% equity stake in Victoria Hospital Limited (\u201cVHL\u201d) through a strategic share-swap transaction. Upon completion, UniHealth\u2019s shareholding in Victoria Hospital will rise from 50.00% to 99.81%, making it an almost wholly owned subsidiary.<\/p>\n

              \u00a0The newly commissioned Ophthalmology Department, therefore, represents an early, tangible return on this consolidation strategy: as UniHealth moves toward near-full ownership of Victoria Hospital, incremental investment in high-margin surgical specialties such as eye care will accrue almost entirely to the Company and its shareholders. Management expects the phased build-out of retinal, glaucoma, and paediatric ophthalmology services over the coming year to further strengthen the hospital\u2019s specialty case mix and average revenue per patient, reinforcing the earnings-accretive rationale underpinning the stake increase.<\/p>\n

              The initiative directly expands surgical eye-care capacity in a market where cataract remains the leading cause of preventable blindness and where specialist ophthalmic services are concentrated in a small number of urban centres. In-house cataract and, eventually, retinal and glaucoma surgery reduces the distance, cost, and time patients must bear to access sight-restoring treatment, with clear implications for productivity and quality of life among the older-adult population most affected by cataract.\u00a0<\/p>\n

              The Department adds a higher-margin specialty service line to a hospital that is already among the Group\u2019s most profitable assets, at a point when the Company is moving to retain substantially all of that profitability for its own shareholders. Combined with UniHealth\u2019s broader FY26 performance \u2014 consolidated Total Income of\u00a0\u20b9137.01 crore, EBITDA of\u00a0\u20b958.82 crore, and Net Profit attributable to equity shareholders of\u00a0\u20b925.83 crore, with East Africa contributing the substantial majority of consolidated revenue\u00a0\u2014\u00a0the ophthalmology launch and the Victoria Hospital consolidation together reinforce the earnings trajectory that has underpinned the Company\u2019s growth since its NSE Emerge listing in September 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n

              A Milestone for Regional Healthcare\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

              The commissioning of this department reflects UMC Victoria Hospital\u2019s broader commitment to strengthening specialized medical services in Uganda and positioning Kampala as a hub for advanced healthcare in East Africa. Hospital leadership noted that the successful completion of the first cataract surgeries will be followed by a phased scale-up of surgical volumes, staffing, and technology over the coming year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

              UMC Victoria Hospital is a multi-specialty hospital based in Kampala, Uganda, committed to providing high-quality, accessible healthcare services to patients across Uganda and the wider East African region.<\/p>\n

              Dr. Anurag Shah, Founder and Director, Unihealth Hospitals Limited, said,<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cRestoring sight to our first patients is a proud moment for the entire hospital. Cataracts remain one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in Uganda, and many people in our communities have limited access to timely surgical care. With this department now operational, we are able to offer that care right here in Kampala, closer to the patients who need it most\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

              Added, Dr. Akshay Parmar, Founder and Managing Director, Unihealth Hospitals Limited, said,<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThis is just the beginning, our vision is to build a full-spectrum eye care centre of excellence in Kampala \u2014 one that offers everything from routine eye examinations to advanced retinal and glaucoma surgery. Over the coming months, we will be investing in phaco surgery technology and specialist retinal surgery capability, along with expanding our clinical team, so that patients across Uganda and the region can access world-class eye care without having to travel abroad\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

              Unihealth Hospitals Limited<\/strong><\/h3>\n

              Founded in Mumbai in 2010, Unihealth Hospitals Limited is an integrated healthcare platform focused on delivering affordable, accessible, and high-quality healthcare services across India and East Africa. The Company operates across multiple healthcare verticals, including hospital operations, healthcare consultancy, pharmaceutical and consumables exports, and medical value travel.<\/p>\n

              Through the Unihealth\u2013UMC Hospitals network, the Company combines Indian clinical expertise, global healthcare standards, and localized partnerships to create a scalable healthcare ecosystem serving diverse patient populations across emerging markets.<\/p>\n

              Driven by its mission of\u00a0\u201cHealthcare for All,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0Unihealth continues to expand its healthcare footprint while creating long-term value for patients, communities, healthcare professionals, and shareholders.<\/p>\n

              The Company was listed on NSE Emerge in September 2023.<\/p>\n

              For FY26, the Company reported consolidated Total Income of\u00a0\u20b9137.01 Cr, EBITDA of\u00a0\u20b958.82 Cr, and Net Profit attributable to the equity shareholders of the Company of\u00a0\u20b925.83\u00a0Cr.<\/p>\n

              If you object to the content of this press release, please notify us at pr.error.rectification@gmail.com. We will respond and rectify the situation within 24 hours.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 14:\u00a0Unihealth Hospitals Limited (NSE: UNIHEALTH | INE0PRF01011), an integrated healthcare delivery platform operating across India and East Africa, today announced the successful commissioning of a dedicated Eye Care and Ophthalmology Department at UMC Victoria Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. The department has completed its first cohort of cataract surgeries, all performed successfully and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":108493,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[116],"tags":[19],"class_list":["post-108492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-business"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108492"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108492\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianweekend.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}