Our DNA is to serve the needy, says Dr Ramani
TNN | Jan 27, 2019, 00:33 ISTIt was a proud moment when the Centre on Friday conferred the founder of the city-based Sankara Eye Foundation India and a doyen of social work, Dr R V Ramani, with Padma Shri. The doctor, who pioneered community eye care work across the country, shared his 41-year-long journey with Pratiksha Ramkumar.
Q: What made you set up Sankara Eye Foundation India?
In 1972, my wife Dr Radha Ramani and I set up a memorial clinic after my father the late A Ramanathan. We had an urge to do something beyond our own practice - to serve the needy. In 1977, the Kamakshiamman Temple was under construction on T V Swamy Road in R S Puram and we heard they wanted to set up a small free clinic for the poor. My wife and I volunteered and with the help of 10 young doctors and as many volunteers we set up Sri Kanchi Kamakotti Medical Centre on May 21, 1977. We slowly set up nine medical centres in and around the district. By 1985, we had grown to a team 75 doctors. So, I chose to set up a free hospital specializing in eye care in 1985. My neighbour and a long-term patient the late Natraj and family donated 5.26 acres land on Sathy Road. After that, the entire community of Coimbatore, every leading family, came forward to support the establishment of the hospital.
Q: How different is Sankara Eye Hospital from other eye hospitals?
Our DNA is to serve the needy, especially in rural India. At the same time, we wanted the venture to be a self-sustaining one. Right from the beginning, we wanted our hospital to be different in terms of environment, building, equipment and above all the work culture. The Sankara Eye Bank was the first eye bank to be registered under the Eye Bank Association of India. Rural outreach eye care programme titled ‘gift of vision’ initiated with Rotary Coimbatore Central, rainbow preventive eye care for school children and diabetic retinopathy programme for rural India are some of the highly successful ongoing service activities.
Q: How and why did you choose to specialize in ophthalmology?
We chose eye care because of two reasons. First, there is a huge need for eye care in India. One third of the world’s blind live in our country. The irony is that 80% don’t have to be blind at all. Secondly, we are able to show a palpable difference in the lives of millions. For example, a patient with a bilateral mature cataract, after a good cataract surgery with lens implant walks back with complete vision. Within 24 hours, we are able to show them the difference between darkness and light.
Q: How many free surgeries has Sankara Eye Hospital performed so far and how do you afford it?
Since 1985, we have examined more than 5.5 million rural patients free and performed around 1.8 million totally free eye surgeries. Our trust performs more than 500 free surgeries a day to the poorest of poor. We have replicated 10 Sankara Eye Hospitals in different states and another three are under construction. We have a unique business model where we follow a ratio of 80:20, where 80% of the beneficiaries is the rural poor who receive totally free eye care, while the remaining 20% is the rich and the middle income, who pay for their treatment.
Q: Besides serving the needy, does Sankara Eye Foundation also take up research in eye care?
We do a lot of research in corneal transplants and retinal diseases and we have patented a synthetic cornea and an intraocular lens. We have also perfected a device, which takes a picture of retina and transmits it to the base hospital. We are also doing research on artificial intelligence. Infosys Sankara Academy of Vision is the capacity building arm of our institution.
Q: What made you set up Sankara Eye Foundation India?
In 1972, my wife Dr Radha Ramani and I set up a memorial clinic after my father the late A Ramanathan. We had an urge to do something beyond our own practice - to serve the needy. In 1977, the Kamakshiamman Temple was under construction on T V Swamy Road in R S Puram and we heard they wanted to set up a small free clinic for the poor. My wife and I volunteered and with the help of 10 young doctors and as many volunteers we set up Sri Kanchi Kamakotti Medical Centre on May 21, 1977. We slowly set up nine medical centres in and around the district. By 1985, we had grown to a team 75 doctors. So, I chose to set up a free hospital specializing in eye care in 1985. My neighbour and a long-term patient the late Natraj and family donated 5.26 acres land on Sathy Road. After that, the entire community of Coimbatore, every leading family, came forward to support the establishment of the hospital.
Q: How different is Sankara Eye Hospital from other eye hospitals?
Our DNA is to serve the needy, especially in rural India. At the same time, we wanted the venture to be a self-sustaining one. Right from the beginning, we wanted our hospital to be different in terms of environment, building, equipment and above all the work culture. The Sankara Eye Bank was the first eye bank to be registered under the Eye Bank Association of India. Rural outreach eye care programme titled ‘gift of vision’ initiated with Rotary Coimbatore Central, rainbow preventive eye care for school children and diabetic retinopathy programme for rural India are some of the highly successful ongoing service activities.
Q: How and why did you choose to specialize in ophthalmology?
We chose eye care because of two reasons. First, there is a huge need for eye care in India. One third of the world’s blind live in our country. The irony is that 80% don’t have to be blind at all. Secondly, we are able to show a palpable difference in the lives of millions. For example, a patient with a bilateral mature cataract, after a good cataract surgery with lens implant walks back with complete vision. Within 24 hours, we are able to show them the difference between darkness and light.
Q: How many free surgeries has Sankara Eye Hospital performed so far and how do you afford it?
Since 1985, we have examined more than 5.5 million rural patients free and performed around 1.8 million totally free eye surgeries. Our trust performs more than 500 free surgeries a day to the poorest of poor. We have replicated 10 Sankara Eye Hospitals in different states and another three are under construction. We have a unique business model where we follow a ratio of 80:20, where 80% of the beneficiaries is the rural poor who receive totally free eye care, while the remaining 20% is the rich and the middle income, who pay for their treatment.
Q: Besides serving the needy, does Sankara Eye Foundation also take up research in eye care?
We do a lot of research in corneal transplants and retinal diseases and we have patented a synthetic cornea and an intraocular lens. We have also perfected a device, which takes a picture of retina and transmits it to the base hospital. We are also doing research on artificial intelligence. Infosys Sankara Academy of Vision is the capacity building arm of our institution.
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