A “significant” investment in Alina Vision, which operates eye hospitals in Vietnam, will help accelerate expansion plans to meet the growing need for cataract surgery in the underserved Vietnamese market.
The investment deal was announced by Australia’s The Fred Hollows Foundation, Rohto Pharmaceuticals from Japan, and healthcare private equity firm TVM Capital Healthcare, Singapore and Dubai.
Alina Vision was founded by The Fred Hollows Foundation in 2018. Over the past five years The Fred Hollows Foundation and Rohto have provided financial backing, eye surgery training, and clinical support. Alina Vision now has more than 80 employees across two eye hospitals.
Cataracts represent the most common cause of blindness in individuals aged over 50 in Vietnam. Alina Vision completed more than 2,800 cataract surgeries last year. Demand for cataract surgeries is expected to rise significantly, surpassing the available service supply.
Announcing the deal, the companies said in addition to the “significant equity investment”, Alina Vision will have access to operational, clinical, training, and management resources.
“This deal marks the most substantial investment by TVM Capital Healthcare in the region to date,” said Hoda Abou-Jamra, Managing Director of TVM Capital Healthcare in Southeast Asia.
Ian Wishart, CEO of The Fred Hollows Foundation, added: “We are very pleased to have TVM Capital Healthcare on board to support us and [Alina Vision]… in scaling the business to help reduce avoidable blindness in Vietnam and the region.
“Alina Vision already invests significant resources in recruiting and training ophthalmologists, optometrists, and nurses with our and Rohto’s help. We can now enhance our efforts and execute on our growth plans.”
