Healing the Eyes of the World

At the heart of this story of the Aravind Eye Care System is how an impossible dream, one man's vision of eliminating needless blindness, has become a global system of compassionate care for all. Founded in southern India more than 40 years ago by Dr. V., a true visionary, Aravind is now the largest provider of eye care in the world. Even more remarkable is the fact that people receive care at Aravind eye hospitals whether or not they can pay for it. No one is turned away and all receive the same dignity and high quality of care. Aravind reaches out to rural people who cannot access care in the cities for exams and if necessary transports them to a hospital for surgery. When needed supplies became too costly Aravind set up a manufacturing system to make them at greatly reduced costs. The Aravind system is an inspiring example of self reliance, frugality and equity in the world of increasing health care costs and barriers to care.

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