The ophthalmology center set up at Hulhumale' hospital by the Chinese Government has begun operations this year.

The Chinese Ambassador to the Maldives, Zhang Lizhong, announced via Twitter on Wednesday that the eye center has unofficially started accepting patients with 30 surgeries already completed successfully.

The doctor in charge of the eye center, Dr Chen, is an eye-care specialist with 30 years of experience under her belt.

Services available at the centre include treatment for cataracts, glaucoma, ocular surface diseases, refractive errors, and vitreous and retinal disease.

The ophthalmology centre is part of an agreement signed between China's National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Ministry of Health to establish a "hospital assistance and cooperation program" on 24 July 2019.

As such, the Chinese government has previously conducted eye camps in the Maldives in 2015 and 2017. Over 1000 people were screened at the camp with cataract surgery completed on 186 people. Further, equipment for eye treatment worth MVR 9.2 million was donated by the Chinese government.

Both Chinese and Maldivian ophthalmologists will provide their services at this center at Hulhumale’ hospital.