Odisha Cabinet Approves Dedicated Cadre for Ophthalmic Services
Odisha Ophthalmic Service Rules, 2025, to Enhance Eye Care Access and Create 341 New Positions Across the State
In a decisive push to strengthen its public health infrastructure, the Odisha Cabinet has approved the formation of a dedicated ophthalmic cadre under the newly framed Odisha Ophthalmic Service (Methods of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2025. The initiative is set to significantly enhance the delivery of eye care services and bring the state in closer alignment with Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS) guidelines.
The Cabinet’s approval enables the creation of 141 new base-level posts and 200 promotional positions within the ophthalmic services framework. This will expand the total cadre strength to 538 posts, including 338 base-level Ophthalmic Assistants, from the current 197 deployed across state-run healthcare facilities.
By establishing a structured and dedicated ophthalmic service, Odisha aims to address critical gaps in eye care delivery, especially in rural and underserved regions. The move is also designed to provide improved career progression pathways and job stability for existing Ophthalmic Assistants, ensuring a more motivated and better-equipped workforce.
Officials emphasized that the expansion of this cadre will bolster the state’s ability to diagnose and treat preventable eye conditions at an early stage. It is expected to contribute substantially to reducing visual impairment and blindness across Odisha, thus improving public health outcomes and quality of life.
The decision marks Odisha as one of the few states in India to institutionalize a specialized ophthalmic cadre, reaffirming its commitment to enhancing specialty care within the public healthcare system.
This initiative follows a series of strategic investments by the state government aimed at modernizing healthcare delivery and expanding human resource capabilities in critical areas of public health.
