Varanasi: To provide world-class eye care treatment for all, Sankara Eye Hospital, with the support of the prominent investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala family and Sankara Eye Foundation, USA launched the the R Jhunjhunwala Sankara Super Specialty Eye Hospital in Varanasi recently.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the hospital.

According to a press release, the Rakesh Jhunjhunwala Foundation covered 50% of land and construction expenses for the Varanasi hospital, as well as operational costs until it achieves self-sufficiency.

The Varanasi hospital is Sankara’s 14th in the country with a capacity to perform 30,000 eye surgeries every year for the patients with 9 operation theatres among many other facilities.

To ensure the viability of its operations as well as help the poorest in eye care and treatment, the hospital will function on a cross-subsidization model, wherein the income from paying patients will subsidize the costs of free surgeries of the beneficiaries for those in need.

The hospital equipped with modern facilities and specialties, including Cataract, Cornea, Retina, Glaucoma, Pediatric Ophthalmology, Oculoplasty, an Eye Bank, Corneal Transplantation, Clinical and Microbiology Lab, Pharmacy, and Optical services, furthering Sankara’s vision of accessible eye care for all.

Founder and Managing Trustee, SEFI, Dr. R. V. Ramani, said, “India is home to the world’s largest population of blind people and more than 80% of these are avoidable blindness cases. Sankara Eye Hospital was founded to provide quality eye care to all. Our goal is to touch 5 lakh free surgeries, pan-India, annually by 2030.”

Member of the Board of Trustees, SEFI, Rekha Jhunjhunwala said, “Sankara Eye Foundation under the leadership of Dr. R. V. Ramani has been successful in reaching out to all people, particularly the economically weak in the country, and helping them receive the gift of sight.

Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath; Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, 70th Jagadguru Peethadipathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kanchipuram, Padma Dr. R. V. Ramani, Founder and Managing Trustee of Sankara Eye Foundation India (SEFI); S V Balasubramanian, Chairman, SEFI; Murali Krishnamurthy, Executive Chairman, Sankara Eye Foundation, USA, Rekha Jhunjhunwala, member of the Board of Trustees took were present during the inauguration.