CHENNAI:In a bid to extend their services across the globe, Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital is eyeing 200 operational clinics across the globe by 2020, Dr Amar Agarwal, chairman and managing director said.
Speaking during the inauguration of the hospital on Arcot Road in Porur on Friday, Dr Agarwal said that the new facility brought the current total number of clinics to 60. “Around 35 clinics are in Tamil Nadu, 12 in Africa, one in Cambodia and the rest in other Indian States like Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telengana,” he said.
The clinic at Porur is spread over 8,000 sq ft — a much larger area than the place where the earlier clinic off Porur junction was situated. The clinic is equipped to conduct hi-tech cataract surgery and administer retinal care using specialised vitreo-retinal and advanced LASIK services. The clinic also has an observation room built into that offers a view into the operation theatre. “Sitting here, the kin of the patient can watch and observe what is the nature of the eye ailment and how it is surgically operated upon,” said Dr Agarwal.
The clinic was inaugurated by popular cine actor Vivekh. The actor said that this was his third time inaugurating an Agarwal eye clinic facility. “My association with Dr Agarwal goes back a long time. He is a family doctor and I knew Dr J Agarwal, the clinic’s founder well,” said Vivekh. “They have been rendering eye care services since 1957 and in all this time what makes them successful is their dedication to the service. How many people have started multiple branches and how many of them have tasted success in all of them? Dr Agarwal has.” he added. Vivekh said that starting a clinic in Porur would help patients in the vicinity. “The travel time is two hours up and down just to go visit an eye doctor. With Dr Agarwal’s in Porur, that trouble is no longer there,” he said. At the event, Dr Agarwal also introduced a website www.dare2stare, a part of his initiative to help secure eye donation pledge from volunteers. “There are three million people who, with eye transplants, can be cured of their blindness. Nearly 80 per cent of all blindness is controllable and curable. If only we had people who would donate,” said Dr Agarwal.
He also appreciated actor Vivekh for pledging his eyes. “He did it five years ago. I wish many would follow in his footsteps,” he added.