Delivering hope and critical eye care to all at affordable costs,Shree Ramkrishna Netralaya

by Suman Gupta

Vision problems and blindness due to multiple eye complications are on the rise amongst the Indian population – mainly due to cataract, diabetes retinopathy, glaucoma and other issues. It is a serious concern for a country that already has the largest population of blind people in the world, of over 8 million. The reason behind such a large population suffering from vision problems is the lack of even basic health care facilities to people who live in the poorest parts of the countryand cannot afford healthcare cost because of poverty. If access to timely treatments would have been possible, a large percentage could have been prevented from going blind.

Knowing this fully well, Shree Ramkrishna Netralaya (SRN) has been treating the population for various eye related problems since 2003 not only in Mumbai but also holding regular eye camps in the interior parts of the country in association with NGOs. During the period of two decades since SRN was established in 2003, the institution’s constant endeavor has been to provide international eye care services across its four facilities located in Mumbai, at Thane, Mulund, Vashi and Seawood. SRN has full NABH accredition. SRN works closely with CGHS and Ex Servicemen health scheme.

The SRN mission has been the dream of Dr. Nitin Deshpande, a highly qualified eye specialist and chairman, who along with his team of qualified doctors has performed over 50,000 surgeries in the past 20 years and earned the trust of over one lakh patients. Cumulatively the team has over 150 years of experience in providing critical eye care treatment. Says the Chairman, “Today the second generation of young doctors are working in close tandem with each other and are providing world class services and surgeries at affordable prices.Shree Ramkrishna Netralaya’shighly capable team of specialists provide comprehensive eye care to every section of the population at our centres and in the rural areas at very reasonable costs, compared to our peers.”

SRN has a holistic approach to eye care. For vision problems has an economical cost too. Timely treatment of vision problems helps prevent blindness and increases access to education for children, besides it helps access to employment and prosperity, and enables greater participation in civil, social and political life among the adult population. A report by NGO Orbisreleased on the World Sight Day, has found that between 2019-20, the loss to gross national income due to blindness in adults would be Rs 9.06 lac crore and Rs. 3.31 crore for children – for 10 and 40lost working years respectively. This includes the loss of economically productive years for both the visually impaired and their care-givers.

SRN is equipped with latest diagnostic and surgical equipments to cater to all patient needs under one roof. The Ophthalmologists in the hospital are specialists in the fields of cataract surgery, glaucoma surgery, lasik surgery, lasik vision correction and more. The hospital is dedicated towards providing a high-class eye care service to one and all. Concludes Dr Deshpande, “Having served thousands of patients with quality eye care, we find ourselves humbled in gratitude for being able to deliver hope and promise in every eye that sees us. We stand committed to serving this cause to as many and in as better ways as we can.”