Partnership models in eye banking – Impact and relevance in Indian context

Corneal transplantation is the primary treatment for corneal blindness. While India has made significant strides in developing infrastructure, legislation, and community engagement, persistent challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, uneven legal implementation, underutilization of donor tissues, and regional disparities continue to affect the availability and equitable distribution of corneas. To overcome these barriers, various partnership models, such as Public-Private Partnerships, collaborations with nongovernmental organizations, public charitable trusts, and international agencies, have emerged as effective solutions. These collaborative efforts have strengthened eye banking by improving training, facilitating technology transfers, enhancing community outreach, and ensuring operational sustainability. This study highlights the current state of eye banking in India, emphasizing the critical role of these partnership models in advancing corneal collection, distribution, and transplantation services nationwide.