“Discover joy in every path you tread. Whether it’s your profession, a relationship, your abode... it’s your responsibility to LOVE IT, or change it.”
Out of the approximately 39 million individuals grappling with blindness globally, nearly a third call India home. It's a sobering thought that about 75% of the blindness cases in India could have been averted, yet too many are denied access to the critical eye care they necessitate. Beyond the emotional and societal toll exacted by the absence of sight (akin to having a mouth but no hands), a significant number of those who lose their sight in India also forfeit their ability to secure a livelihood or pursue further education.
Dr. Govindappa Venkataswamy, affectionately known as 'Dr. V.', stood as the visionary and former chairman of Aravind Eye Hospitals. Armed with expertise as an ophthalmologist, he performed over 100,000 eye surgeries during his illustrious career. Even after retiring in 1976 from a government position at the age of 58, his fervent desire to alleviate the suffering of his compatriots remained unquenched.
Determinedly, Dr. V embarked on a mission to devise a business model for eye care that could dismantle the barriers (financial, temporal, skill-related, or geographical) that hindered impoverished Indians from receiving essential treatment. Concurrently, this model needed to generate substantial revenue, rendering it sustainable and reproducible. This endeavor bore fruit in the form of Aravind Eye Care, a modest institution with just 11 beds nestled in Madurai, India.
Through unwavering refinement and optimization, Aravind eventually became a beacon of hope for countless patients, curing blindness on a grand scale, often at an incredibly reduced cost or even free of charge. Dr. V's introspection in the 1980s resonates:
“How can I become a perfect instrument?”
Dr. V ingeniously introduced an Assembly-Line Approach to eye surgery, enabling doctors to perform surgeries in rapid succession, obviating the waiting time between procedures as nurses prepped patients. The result: Aravind's surgeons conducted over 2000 surgeries annually, a stark contrast to the 150-200 performed by their counterparts in the region.
This boost in efficiency not only slashed Aravind's per-surgery costs but also spurred Dr. V's ongoing innovations. He crafted a system wherein Aravind extended premium care options – additional medical procedures and private rooms – to those who could afford them. The resulting influx of funds was channeled to subsidize or entirely cover the expenses of patients lacking financial means. Aravind's reach spanned beyond hospitals and outreach camps, touching the lives of over four million patients, and performing more than 400,000 eye surgeries annually.
Even while grappling with rheumatoid arthritis since the age of 30, Dr. V remained dedicated to Aravind until his passing at age 87. His devotion silently transformed the lives of millions.
“The common misconception is that time is scarce. The truth is, time is abundant. What’s insufficient is our focus within the time we possess. We win by channeling our focus towards the right pursuits.”
Though Dr. V's narrative is singular and profoundly inspiring, its fundamental tenets are universally relevant. Whenever innovators convert a formerly complex, costly, and inaccessible product or service into one that is straightforward, affordable, and attainable, new horizons open for a broader segment of society, yielding profound benefits for both consumers and the overall economy.
Reflecting on his life's work, he articulated:
“Intellect and capability are necessary but insufficient. The delight is creating something beautiful …”
