Sankara Nethralaya. A Mission For Vision

As an eye care institute with a social commitment Sankara Nethralaya has not only won the praise and adulation for the high quality of eye care it offers to both paying and non-paying patients, the human touch experienced at its wards or its State of the Art infrastructure, it has also come under great praise for the way it has administered itself, managed its finances, maintained the highest quality standards and provided a great work environment to its employees. Observations like ‘The Best charitable organizations in India’ by eminent jurist and legal luminary Shri Nani Palkhivala and ‘A high performing knowledge institution, mission driven and with a proven track record’ by the Ratan Tata Trust or the award for the ‘Best Social Enterprise in India’ or ‘Business Superbrand in India’ point out to excellence stretching far beyond the domain of quality Medicare. As a highly successful social enterprise and non-profit institution run on modern management principles Sankara Nethralaya has drawn the fascination of professional managers. While there are many success stories on market driven, commercial enterprises in a free growth economy the huge acclaim and success of a non-profit in every sphere of its activity provides the ideal ‘Case Study’ for students of management and  bodies that regulate and control  business at all levels.

Sankara Nethralaya was recently called upon to share its ‘Business model’, its work principles and ethics and the secret of its success by the Avicenna Leadership Program a delegation of business leaders and students of management from Holland on a visit to Chennai and at a seminar titled ‘Healthcare-Its Reach, Cost and Quality organized by the Eastern Chapter of the American Chamber of commerce at Kolkata.

Dr S.Bhaskaran, Chairman, Sankara Nethralaya addressed the distinguished gathering on both occasions and gave them a bird’s eye view of the company’s driving philosophy, operational methodology, research initiatives, academic endeavors, role in communal ophthalmology, generation and management of funds and future goals to a highly fascinated and appreciative audience.

If conferring of the ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ on its Chairman Emeritus was the moment of crowning glory for Sankara Nethralaya at the AIOC-2012, held at Kochi, the 70th All India Ophthalmological Conference had other memorable moments too for the Sankara Nethralaya family to cherish. Dr Jyotirmay Biswas, Director Uveitis and Ocular Pathology was decorated with the prestigious ‘Honorary Fellowship of the All India Ophthalmological Collegium’ for his significant contribution in his area of specialization. Dr.L.Vijaya, Head of the Glaucoma Department was honoured with the IJO Platinum Award for her paper titled ‘Outcome and cataract size in Chennai Glaucoma Study’ submitted in year 2010.The paper titled ‘The 8 year experience with MOOKP in India- Where do we stand?’ A well researched presentation by Dr Shwetha Agarwal, Consultant Cornea Department was selected as the ‘Best Paper in Cornea’, it was a second successive year of pride and jubilation for the Neuro-opthalmology team as its deputy director Dr. Shikha Talwar Bassi, won the ‘Best paper in Neuro-ophthalmology’ for her presentation titled ‘Optical coherence tomography in papilledima and pseudo papilledima with or without optic disc drusen’. Dr Akshay Nair a first year PhD student of DNB was awarded the ‘SD Athavale award’ for the best paper in Neuro-ophthalmology for his paper ‘Diagnostic field for Neuro-imaging in sixth nerve palsy’ co-authored by Dr Gandhi Rashmin Anil Kumar, Director, Sankara Nethralaya Academy and e-learning and submitted in year 2011, another student who made a mark in this year’s AIOC awards was Mohammed Aris Abdul Rab Mulla a Vitro Retina Fellow who was honoured with the ‘Young Researcher Award’ for his thesis topic titled ‘Polymerase Chain reaction in infection Uveitis’.

After making a strong presense in the serious deliberations, Sankara Nethralaya went on to stake its share of glory in the quick recall and response rounds with Dr. Vineeth  Rathra, Senior Consultant, Nava Suja Sankara Nethralaya and Dr Atheeshwar Das, VR Fellow winning a Samsung Galaxy Tab and a Samsung Wave mobile each at the AIOS National Ophthalmic Quiz contest.

As an institution with a strong bonding with its past students, it was a matter of great pride that winners like Dr.S.Natarajan who won the P.Siva Reddy International Award for innovations in Vitreoretinal surgery and Dr. G.Mahesh who won the first prize at the quiz contest are alumni of Sankara Nethralaya

Sankara Nethralaya Main hospital won the accreditation by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) the highest evaluation parameter in the country for health care providers. This gives it a pride of place among the select Hospitals in Ophthalmology in India to win this coveted distinction. The stringent parameters that the NABH applies in its evaluation process can be gauged by the fact that it includes more than 500 mandatory objective elements with patient and organization centered standards.

NABH norms ensure that the clinical and governance aspects are process driven and based on clear transparent policies and protocols; in a nutshell NABH guidelines streamline the entire operations of a hospital. NABH is the Indian equivalent of major international standards governing the health care industry worldwide and is in turn accredited to ISQUA; this makes an NABH accredited hospital on par in all respects with hospitals of international repute and standing the world over.

Aided by a professional NABH consulting agency, Sankara Nethralaya brought about improvements in the areas of Documentation, Infrastructure, Training, Processes, Patient care, Employee care and Quality Indicators. Quality committees were formed and adherence to legal requirements was given greater priority. Based on satisfactory compliance to the NABH guidelines the main hospital was recommended by the accreditation committee for final NABH Accreditation.

Dr HN.Madhavan, President, Vision Research Foundation, Director & Professor of Microbiology, Director, Vidyasagar Institute of Biomedical Technology and Science, Sankara Nethralaya, attended the STEM-2012, the 8th Annual Conference on Biotechnology and a platform for learning and knowledge sharing , on the 31st  of January and 1st  of February 2012 at the Marriot Hotel and Convention Centre, Hyderabad. The session provided a rare opportunity to interact and exchange views with leading biotechnologists and researchers. Dr H.N. Madhavan participated in the international conference at the invitation of the Society for Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering (SRMTE) a registered non-profit body which had organized the STEM 2012 – a special session focusing on the latest trends in Stem cells, Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering. He delivered the first ‘Dr C.M Habibullah Memorial Oration’ on the opening day of the session. The topic of his oration ‘My experiences in research done by my colleagues  and myself in Corneal Limbal cells and its application in clinical sciences’ was very well received by the august gathering and he was honoured with the ‘Dr C.M Habibullah Memorial Oration Award’ by the organizers.

A life time of tireless effort and missionary dedication to doing own God’s work found its crowning glory on Thursday, 2nd of February, 2012. The All India Ophthalmological Society, the world’s second largest and the country’s largest professional body dedicated to the cause of Ophthalmology with a membership of 14,000 eye care professionals, honoured Dr Sengamedu Srinivasa Badrinath, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethralaya and a towering personality in the world of eye care with the ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ at its 70th Annual Conference (AIOC – All India Ophthalmological Conference – 2012) being held at Kochi. The award comes as a high recognition of Dr SS Badrinath’s colossal contribution to the field of ophthalmology in terms of pioneering research  through the establishment of State of the Art research Centers, spreading knowledge in optometry and ophthalmology through dedicated educational institutions accredited to prestigious Universities, providing world class eye care at affordable cost and most importantly his stupendous efforts in eradicating blindness, especially among the poor and the needy through high quality community ophthalmology initiatives at the various Sankara Nethralayas in Chennai, Kolkata, Rameswaram and Tirupathi and Mobile eye care units reaching out on the spot ophthalmological care to the remotest villages

The award was presented by acclaimed novelist and Member of Parliament  Shri Shashi Tharoor.The deafening, standing  ovation given by the attendees comprising Doctors, Researchers, Scientists , overseas delegates, eminent people from other fields and local invitees at the Convention Centre of the Le Meridian Hotel, Kochi, as Dr SS.Badrinath walked up to the dais to receive the coveted award, reiterated in no uncertain terms that this was not only an award from a renowned professional body but an award from the heart of the people.

Ophthalmology meet opens
The Hindu

“Bhoomi Puja” the traditional auspicious beginning and invoking the blessings of the Almighty for the successful completion of the proposed hospital project and excellent functioning of the new hospital was performed at the proposed site at Rajarhat on 28th of January, 2012. The proceedings began at 10:45 am and the main rituals were performed between 11:30 am – 1:00 pm the most auspicious part of the day. The function was graced by Shri Partho Chatterjee, Honourable Minister for Industries, West Bengal, Sankara Nethralaya Advisory Board Members at Kolkata Shri Bhagwati Prasad Jalan, Shri Hanuman Prasad Ji Todi and Shri S.Mahalingam.

Shri R.S Falor, Member of the Board, Vision Research Foundation, Dr S.Bhaskaran, Chairman, Shri PR.Ravindran, Chief General Manager and Shri S.P.Chandrasekhar, Project Consultant, from Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai and Dr.Sujatha Guha, Medical Director, Ms Rita Das, Administrator and a good number of employees of the Aditya Birla Sankara Nethralaya, Kolkata were present at the function. Shri Arindham Mukherjee represented the structural engineers and builder Ms Mukherjee &Alliances Engineering Pvt Ltd

Shri A. Mahalingam receiving the memento from the Chennai Mayor

The Sankara Nethralaya Academy made an impressive showcase of itself and its contribution to the world of education and academia in general at the ‘Chennai Science Festival 2012’ organized jointly by the Science City, Government of Tamil Nadu and Anna University at the Arignar Anna Gem Science Park School, Chennai, from  the 27th to 30th of January, 2012. The objective of the festival is to create awareness on the role of science in everyday life among the general public and the student community in particular and inculcate a scientific temper in them.

Sankara Nethralaya Academy faculty members and personnel stationed at its two stalls in the Science Festival explained the inception and achievements of the Academy, its expertise in the courses offered and their high scope to visiting students, parents and the teaching community. Shri A.Mahalingam, Academic Officer, SN Academy, welcomed and explained the objectives of the institution to distinguished visitors Shri Mayilvahanan Natarajan, Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR Medical University, Dr.Mannar Jawahar, Vice-Chancellor of the Anna University, Senior government officials and Scientists who visited the stall, he also received the participants memento from the Worshipful Mayor of Chennai Shri Saidai S. Duraiswamy on behalf of Sankara Nethralaya and the SN Academy. A proud highlight of the event was the winning of the Tamil essay contest in Science by S. Suganya, a student of the Sankara Nethralaya Academy.

Sankara Nethralaya and the Sankara Nethralaya Academy take this opportunity to express their wholehearted thanks Dr.  R.Srilakshmi, Registrar, The Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR Medical University who encouraged and facilitated participation by the Sankara Nethralaya Academy in this highly prestigious Science Festival and helped in getting rich exposure to the institution and the courses offered.

The bright Sunday morning at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium the venue of the Sankara Nethralaya sports meet was reminiscent of the ever so familiar words from the commentator’s box at the Lord’s stadium, ‘A glorious sunshine with a nip in the air’, although Margazhi had departed a week back, the morning was pleasantly cool and bright. Employees and their family members dressed in their best casuals had gathered well before the scheduled hour ready and rearing to go.  The day’s proceedings got started with the unfurling of the Sankara Nethralaya flag and declaring of the meet open by senior staff member Shri R.Sekhar, Supervisor at the House-keeping department. This was followed by a quick round of breakfast to all attendees.

The various sporting events and competitions conducted on the basis of age group witnessed enthusiastic participation by staff and their family members. Prizes for the winners of the day and for winners who had participated in the indoor events, sports quiz and events conducted earlier at the ESO and other venues on various dates were distributed by Dr S.Bhaskaran, Chairman, Shri PR.Ravindran, Chief General Manager, Ms Reena Eapen, DGM,HR and other Senior executives of Sankara Nethralaya. There were also gifts galore for participants and children present on the occasion. A lucky draw for employees was held and one first prize and two second and third prizes were given away to the lucky winners.

The function came to a close at 12:00 noon and the gathering dispersed after serving of lunch.

The Elite School of Optometry, a premier institution in its area of specialization has as part of its initiative to share and simplify its rich knowledge and expertise in a wide range of optometry related topics released an exhaustive question and answer book titled “ESO’s Optometry Question Bank with rational reasoning” for the benefit of both practicing optometrists and students of optometry at various levels. This book is the first volume of a series of books covering a broad spectrum of optometry related topics like Binocular vision, Pediatric Optometry, Contact lens, Optometric Optics, Dispensing Optics, Low Vision Clinic, Occupational Optometry, Geriatric Optometry and Ocular Diseases. Subsequent volumes covering other optometry related topics would be released in a phased manner. The book which took a year of hard work and preparation by faculty members of the Elite School of Optometry and Department of Optometry has 50 questions on the topics covered and expert answers to them in addition to detailed explanations on each subject made simple and easy to understand.

This highly useful referral on optometry can be bought online at www.jaypeebrothers.com or over the phone at +91-11-32558559

In keeping with the spirit of its founding principle and cherished objective of sharing  knowledge and in-depth learning for the betterment of humanity, Sankara Nethralaya has released its ‘Manual of Medical Laboratory Techniques’ a sheet anchor for proper and precise diagnosis. The book is co-authored by Dr S.Ramakrishnan, Professor Emeritus, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology and Dr KN.Sulochana, Director, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Vision Research Foundation, with rich inputs from highly qualified and experienced researchers and technologists from the departments of Microbiology, Hematology, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology.  This makes the book an authoritative treatise, referral, guide and source of knowledge for students and practitioners in these fields. The book will go a long way in improving the overall quality and efficacy of Medicare by enhancing the accuracy of diagnosis and interpretation of symptoms and ailments, the very basis for administering the right therapy. This exhaustive work on medical technology including instrumentation would enable laboratory scientists conduct tests without external guidance and is a must have for hospitals, clinical laboratories and teaching institutions.