1/3rd of world’s blind are in India; Sankara Nethralaya’s unique business model that takes care of the poor
Economic Times has recently recognized Dr S.S Badrinath, the founder of Sankara Nethralaya as its ‘Corporate Citizen of the Year’. While the achievements of this wonderful institution are truly creditable, what struck me most in the ET feature( ” The Modest Doctor with a Great Vision“) was the ‘business model’ that was described.
On the one hand, India has a third of all blind people in the world, and mostly poor. Coupled with the fact that we also have the largest number of diabetics, eye care is truly a challenge, which needs the best of talent and equipment. On the other hand, early prescription and use of corrective glasses is often all that is required; around 6-7% of blind people in India are that way because they do not use corrective glasses!
Sankara Nethralaya’s business model is a self-sustaining one. Poor, needy patients get free treatment, while the richer ones pay( an important fact being that treatment is of such high quality that even well-to-do patients aspire to get treated here). So, the rich subsidize the poor. The institution accepts donations for capital investments — especially equipment which is costly and has to be imported.
ET reports that this ‘business model’ has enabled Sankara Nethralaya to today employ over 1,200 people, treat 1,500 patients daily, and perform over 125 surgeries a day. About 50% of the consultations and 40% of the surgeries are done free of cost.
Can other hospitals replicate this unique, self-sustaining model, where the poor get affordable treatment and the rich get quality-care, across all aspects of healthcare? Why just healthcare? What about education? Housing?
