Prime Minister Narendra Modi today emphasised the significant transformation in the country’s healthcare sector during the last ten years. He highlighted Kashi’s growing reputation as a major healthcare hub, not only in Poorvanchal but for the entire country. Mr. Modi was speaking after the inauguration of the RJ Sankara Eye Hospital at his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi. The Prime Minister announced that the government will add 75 thousand more medical seats in the next five years to further strengthen healthcare infrastructure in the country.
Mr. Modi listed out various initiatives of the central government in healthcare, providing cheap and affordable treatment to people. He cited the establishment of over 5,500 Ayushman Arogya temples in Poorvanchal in the last ten years, which have made medicines more affordable, reducing average spending on drugs by 25 percent. Reflecting on the poor state of immunisation when his government first came to power, the Prime Minister highlighted the success of Mission Indradhanush, which immunised millions of pregnant women and newborns, helping protect lives, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hospital was inaugurated in the presence of Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati, Jagadaguru of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham of Tamil Nadu. The hospital has been established by Sankara Nethralaya, one of India’s leading eye care service providers, in collaboration with leading investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and the Sankara Eye Foundation of the United States. Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister expressed hope that the new eye hospital will benefit both the elderly and children and urged the Shankaracharya and Sankara Trust to consider opening another centre in Bihar. Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati lauded Prime Minister Modi’s developmental efforts.
This hospital in Varanasi is the 14th hospital of Sankara Nethralaya in the country, capable of performing more than 30,000 surgeries on the poorest patients every year. This world-class eye care facility has been set up with an investment of 110 crore rupees. It will have nine operating theatres along with other necessary facilities. To ensure smooth operations and to provide eye care and treatment to the poorest patients, the hospital will operate on a cross-subsidisation model, whereby funds received from paying patients will be used to treat patients in need.
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