In Bangladesh more than 750,000 people are blind among 30+ populations, of which 80% are due to cataract. According to official estimate, approximately 120,000 cataract patients are added every year. Over 6 million people in Bangladesh need vision correction by spectacles and other means. Approximately 150,000 people with irreversible blindness require rehabilitation. There are about 40,000 visually impaired women and children in Bangladesh, of whom an estimated 12,000 have cataract.

It is a matter of concern that 80% of the visually impaired persons live in rural areas where the treatment facilities are very poor as 90% of the doctors and paramedics are urban-based.

Poverty and poor health are inextricably linked. Poverty is both a cause and a consequence of poor health.It is observed by Grameen Bank that for sustainable poverty reduction the health issues must be addressed.On the other hand,Poverty increases the chances of poor health and micro credit immediately and directly addresses poverty.

There is a profound two-way relationship between poverty and health. What this means is people with limited access to income are often more socially isolated, experience more stress, have poorer mental and physical health and fewer opportunities for early childhood development and scope of education. In the reverse, it has been found that chronic conditions, especially those that limit a persons ability to maintain viable stable employment, can contribute to a downwards spiral into poverty.

In 1993, Grameen Trust launched a pilot project Rural Health Program (RHP). Based on the positive results, Grameen Kalyan took responsibility to provide quality primary health care services to Grameen Bank members as well as non-member as preventive and promotional health services with special emphasis on family planning, reproductive health, maternal and child health. One of the important objectives was to make the program self-sustainable and ensure qualitative health care services to the marginal people in ignored locations within affordable cost.

Considering the health care situation in Bangladesh and its impact on the poverty issue, Prof. Muhammad Yunus decided to create affordable secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities that will provide adequate health care to the low-income population of Bangladesh, especially those who are leaving in the rural areas. To realize this vision, the Grameen Health Care Services Ltd. (GHS) - a Social Business Enterprise is established as a non-dividend Company.