Since Sankara Nethralaya entertains paying patients, why seek donations?
Sankara Nethralaya examines around 1,500 patients and performs around 125 surgeries every day. About 50 % of the out-patient department and 35 % of the surgeries are done free of cost to the underprivileged at the main hospital in Chennai. The criteria for free services require the patient’s monthly income to not exceed Rs. 3,500 (at the current rate, $73). The fee levied by Sankara Nethralaya, is set only to meet the cost of treatment of paying patients and the free services rendered to the poor, by way of outpatient consultations and required treatments. Donations, therefore, are necessary for the efficient running of the hospital, to cater to demands of both the haves and have-nots, update facilities, to render state-of-the-art quality eye care to all, educate and to train medicals and paramedical personnel.
