Chitrakoot, India – May 2025
Following the 2025 Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology (APAO) Congress, a group of Fellows from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) embarked on a significant visit to Sadguru Netra Chikitsalaya (SNC) in Chitrakoot—recognized globally as one of the largest and most impactful rural eye hospitals.
The delegation explored avenues for research, training, and outreach collaboration, with a keen interest in adapting India’s rural eye care innovations to other underserved regions, notably in the Pacific Islands and Timor Leste. The visit served as a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of community-based healthcare models in ophthalmology.
SNC, operated by the Shri Sadguru Seva Sangh Trust, recorded over 1.7 million consultations and 1.5 million surgeries in the past year alone, delivering more than 800 surgeries daily—a remarkable feat in a rural setting. The Fellows observed firsthand SNC’s integration of high-volume, high-quality surgical care with world-class infection control protocols, advanced training programs, and robust community initiatives.
Beyond clinical excellence, the hospital is lauded for its holistic approach—including vocational education programs and women’s empowerment initiatives—underscoring the deep social impact of its work.
RANZCO’s report praises the institution as a model of rural innovation in global eye health and expresses optimism for future collaborative efforts aimed at scaling similar models to enhance access and quality of eye care across developing regions.