What is Aravind’s mission and is Aravind successful in achieving it?
Aravind’s mission is to provide eye treatment by offering intra-ocular lens (IOL) surgeries to all the patients both paying and free ones. There has been progress in terms of expansion of their structures since its establishment. However, the mission has not been achieved fully since full financial self-sufficiency hasn’t been attained. The hospital’s objective is to mobilize funds from all sources including the paying patients. The funds are used to cater for the free patients at the Free Hospital.
The Free Hospital has not yet reached its best as it lacks facilities such as beds. Instead, patients sleep on bamboo or coir mats spread on the floor. But on the light side, this free facility that is the primary strategy of Aravind has been able to help many locals with eye complications. The statistical data provided shows that a total of 20995 free surgeries were conducted between January-June 1992 while the total number of free patients who had visited the facility was 189992.
What are Aravind’s strongest capabilities? How successful is Aravind at strategy execution?
Aravind has achieved significantly with time. Firstly, Aravind has a strong ability to mobilize funds for developing the setup facility. When the hospital was being set up in 1976, they lacked credibility, and people did not help with funds. Dr. V had to mortgage his house to raise money for starting the eye treatment facility. Money raised from operations was used to expand the Main Hospital facility. The money raised from the Main Hospital alongside donations such as those from the Royal Common Wealth Society was used to set up the Free Hospital. The money generated is used for expansion purposes such as modernization and updating of the equipment and the facility itself.
Similarly, Aravind is good at the execution of projects. The IOLs project has been a success. It has set up a modern IOL manufacturing facility called the Auro Lab which has produced over 50% detect-free lenses. This keeps the original plan of free eye treatment going. Also, the Aravind facility has been able to create a central surgical facility that is jointly used by all patients.
Does Dr. V’s leadership have anything to do with Aravind’s success? What kind of leader is he?
Dr. V has contributed towards the success of Aravind facility. When the Main Hospital was being set up in 1976, it was difficult to mobilize funds. Dr. V mortgaged his house and used the money for setting up the hospital. In addition, Dr. V had to get even some friends to donate whatever amount they could to build the hospital. He made sure that the revenue generated from the operations was reinvested and for setting up the Free Hospital. He has used spiritual approach to maintaining his course. Dr. V can be described as patient, visionary and committed leader. He has stayed on the course of offering eye treatment especially to the poor. He has helped many poor patients regain their eyesight, a good example being the exhibit 9 from October 1992. The number of those diagnosed with Iritis and treated was 226 while that for Straight Keratitis was 55.
Is Aravind an innovative organization?
Aravind is an innovative organization. Firstly, they were able to embark on a project to install a modern facility for producing IOLs, the Auro Lab. Between January to June 1992, a total of 18306 free glasses were given out to the free patients. This shows that the facility has an innovative mindset. Aravind has taken the initiative of getting its own doctors and nurses who are selected and trained in the facility. In addition, the service has offered employment to many. It is innovative in that the Main Hospital generates revenue that is used to facilitate the functioning of the Free Hospital. The facility pays its workers by its means.
Aravind Eye Hospital can be made more efficient in terms of its operations by making the Free Hospital more convenient through the inclusion of structures like beds. More financial sourcing from external sources would be a bigger expansion step.
