Aravind Eye Care System is a non-profit eye care organization in India that provides affordable and accessible eye care to all. It was founded in 1976 by Dr. Govind Appa Venkata swamy and has grown from an 11-bed hospital to performing over 500,000 eye surgeries annually. Aravind innovated to reach the large underserved population in India that needs eye care but can't afford it by conducting eye camps, using a sliding scale for fees, and extensively training eye care professionals. The drivers of innovation at Aravind include addressing the major need for eye care in India, a passion and vision to meet that need, overcoming challenges through organizational actions with a patient-centric outlook

1. The story of innovation at
Aravind eye care system

2. Aravind Eye Hospital
• Aravind Eye Care System is a non-profit eye care organization
headquartered in Madurai, India. It is one of the largest and most
efficient eye care providers in the world, performing over
500,000 eye surgeries each year. AECS is known for its
innovative approach to providing affordable and accessible eye
care to all, regardless of their ability to pay.
• AECS was founded in 1976 by Dr. Govind Appa Venkata swamy
(also known as Dr. V.), a visionary leader who was committed to
eliminating needless blindness in India. Dr. V. developed a new
model of eye care that was based on three principles: high
volume, high quality, and affordable cost.
• Aravind grow from an 11-bed hospital in 1976 to become one of
the largest provider of eye care.

3. Loss of sight is not just a
physical disability
• Problem: Over 200 million people in India need eye care, but
80% of this blindness or visual impairment is preventable or
treatable.
• Reasons: Poverty, rural location, lack of awareness, and lack of
access to affordable care.
• Solution: Aravind Eye Hospital, a non-profit organization that
provides free or low-cost eye care to the poor and rural
population.
• Innovation: Aravind has innovated to reach this underserved
population by conducting eye camps in rural villages, charging
patients on a sliding scale, and training a large number of
ophthalmologists and other eye care professionals.

4. Drivers of innovation at
Aravind
• Need in the society or marketplace
• Passion and vision to meet that need
• Ability to face and overcome challenges and obstacles
• Organizational actions rooted in a patient-centric outlook
• Non-negotiable values (equity, compassion)
• Attitude that anything is possible when working in a spirit of
service for the uplifting humanity