Sightsavers India, also known as the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, has officially opened applications for its 2025 India Fellowship Programme, aimed at addressing the critical shortage of trained ophthalmologists in rural and underserved regions of the country.
Despite India having an estimated 25,000 ophthalmologists, a stark disparity remains in their distribution — with just one ophthalmologist per 250,000 people in rural areas compared to one per 10,000 in urban centres. This imbalance underscores the urgent need for skilled professionals in the field of eye care across remote communities.
The Sightsavers India Fellowship Programme offers a structured 24-month residential training experience designed for young ophthalmologists (MS/DO/DNB) from recognised Indian institutions. The initiative blends intensive clinical training at leading eye health centres with district-level postings, surgical mentorship, community engagement, and leadership development.
Fellows benefit from hands-on experience in high-volume rural and peri-urban settings, participation in community-based eye health surveys, and self-transformation mentoring. A monthly stipend and residential facilities are also provided.
“India has made remarkable progress in expanding eye care services, but strengthening the human resource base is vital for sustaining this growth,” said RN Mohanty, CEO of Sightsavers India. “Through this Fellowship, we aim to nurture future leaders in ophthalmology who are committed to delivering quality care in the most underserved areas.”
The programme is open to recent postgraduates and diploma holders in ophthalmology with a strong foundation in clinical practice and key personal attributes such as adaptability, ethics, and emotional resilience.
The deadline for applications is 15 August 2025, with the Fellowship beginning in September 2025.
For more details and to apply, visit: https://indiafellowshipprogram.sightsaversindia.org
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