Larry Page in India

Global IT major Google is to extend its expertise in Information Technology to the world famous Aravind Eye Hospital in Madurai.

Google co-founder and president (products), Larry Page, who arrived in Madurai by a special flight on Sunday, had an overall view of the Hospital, recognised as an examination centre in the country, by the Royal College of Opthalmology in the UK.

A release from the hospital said its executive director R D Thulasiraj made a presentation on how the hospital, which had a humble beginning, emerged as a world-class eye care facility.

The hospital would explore the possibilities of working with Google and see how best it could train its doctors and paramedical staff in clinical and management of eye hospitals using IT, the release said.

Google has offered to help the hospital provide distance education programmes and quality eye care in villages using IT and also work on health projects benefiting the poor, the release said. Google.Org executive director Larry Brilliant was also present.