Sightsavers India Opens Applications for 2025 India Fellowship Program to Strengthen Rural Eye Care Services

New Delhi, July 03, 2025: Sightsavers India has announced the opening of applications for the 2025 cohort of its India Fellowship Program, a 24-month residential initiative aimed at developing a new generation of ophthalmologists to address the growing need for quality eye care in underserved rural and peri-urban areas.

India faces a stark disparity in eye care accessibility, with just 15 ophthalmologists per million people and significant urban-rural imbalances. According to a recent study, there is one ophthalmologist per 10,000 people in urban areas, while rural regions have only one per 250,000. The India Fellowship Program seeks to address this gap by training and placing skilled professionals where they are needed most.

The fellowship offers clinical training at leading institutions, hands-on surgical experience, district-level postings, and mentorship in both medical and non-clinical areas such as leadership and life skills. Fellows also participate in community-based eye health surveys. An attractive stipend and residential accommodation are provided.

The program is open to postgraduates or diploma holders in ophthalmology (MS/DO/DNB) from recognized Indian institutions, including recent graduates. Candidates should possess strong clinical knowledge and demonstrate adaptability, ethics, and emotional resilience. Applications are open until August 15, 2025, and the program is set to begin in September.

“India has made remarkable strides in expanding access to eye care and strengthening human resources remains key to sustaining this progress. Through Sightsavers India’s Fellowship Program, we are proud to nurture young ophthalmologists who are passionate about delivering quality care where it's needed most. We look forward to welcoming the next cohort of fellows—future leaders who will help shape a more inclusive society and contribute to reducing blindness prevalence,” said RN Mohanty, CEO, Sightsavers India.

Since its inception, the Fellowship Program has provided critical support in eight states—Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha—strengthening the delivery of rural eye care through skilled manpower and community engagement.

For more information and to apply, visit: https://indiafellowshipprogram.sightsaversindia.org