Kundapur: A charitable eye hospital-Charmakki Narayana Shetty Memorial Eye Hospital in Shankaranarayana, Kundapur - that will offer world class facilities free of cost, was inaugurated on Sunday. It will be operated and managed by Narayana Netralaya.
The facility has an eye hospital and a primary health centre as part of its offerings. The establishment of an eye hospital in Shankaranarayana was originally conceived by Dr N Sitaram Shetty, executive chairman of Shankaranarayana Constructions (SNC) Private Limited under their CSR initiative. This vision was significantly supported by his elder brother, the late Dr Bhujang Shetty, founder of the Narayana Nethralaya Group of Hospitals.
The inauguration of the hospital marks the 100th birth anniversary of SNC's visionary founder, C Narayana Shetty. Sitaram Shetty, executive chairman of SNC urged the residents to utilise this no-cost, high-quality healthcare to support a healthier future for themselves and the community, after inaugurating the hospital in the presence of Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, chairman of Narayana Health, Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, chairman of Manipal Hospitals and other guests.
The eye hospital will offer completely free cataract surgeries. Two ultra-modern operation theaters capable of performing up to 70,000 cataract surgeries annually have been set up. Phaco cataract surgeries will be performed using high-performance, imported phaco machines for superior outcomes.
The primary health care centre at the hospital is looking to improve healthcare access in the region by offering free consultations, vaccinations, lab tests, and minor injury care.
With no cash counters, all services are provided free of cost at the hospital ensuring that healthcare is available to everyone in the community.