Make a Dent in the Universe

Yes, it’s a Steve Jobs line and it definitely deserves to be associated to this story.

 I had always heard of Aravind Eye Hospital, but had never really understood the extent of its reach, until I read about it in Making Breakthrough Innovation Happen by Porus Munshi.

 Aravind is a 32-year old Madurai-based institution, that addresses eye care, taking care of most ophthalmologic problems for both the poor and the not-so-poor population of India. Its business model is based on making money on numbers – enormous volumes with low profit margins. In this way, the community need is also served.

 Dr Govindappa Venkataswamy or Dr V’s dream translated into reality is Aravind’s story. When I read about Dr V’s journey through life, it made me wonder “What makes some of us so persistent in the eye of adversity, while  most of us so readily give in, with weak submission?”

 Just as a quick reference, here’s Aravind’s journey over last 32 years:

 1977 – built a building with 30 beds

1978 – built a low-cost hospital with 100 beds

1980 – moved to present facility in Madurai

1982 – expanded the facility to 200 beds and 3 OTs

1984 – set up a free hospital with 400 beds and 3 Ots

1985 – set up Aravind Hospital, Theni

1988 – set up Aravind Hospital, Tirunelveli for 135 paying and 400 free patients

1991 – Madurai facility expanded for 280 paying and 1100 free patients

1992 – set up Aurolab

1996 – set up LAICO

1997 – set up Aravind, Coimbatore

1999 – set up hostel for PG doctors

2001 – free hospital expanded for another 400 patients

2001 – set up nurses residential quarters

2003 – set up Aravind, Pondicherry

2004 – started OPD at Melur, Madurai, now expanded to 4 OPD at Thirumangalam, Tuticorin and Tirupur

2005 – Piloted vision centre serving a rural population of 50,000; this has grown to 30 vision centers presently

2007 – inaugurated state-of-art manufacturing facility, manufacturing intraocular lenses, sutures, blades and pharmaceutical products used in eye care

2007 – AMECS division starts to manage eye hospitals in other parts of the country (2 in UP, one in Kolkatta and one in Gujarat)

2008 – inaugurated Dr G. Venkataswamy Eye Research Institute, a research facility for molecular biology, genetic disorders in eyes and proteomic studies

 Some remarkable approaches for these achievements:

• Standardizing systems, departments, equipment, services leading to cost reduction
• “Content is more important than the container, don’t focus on the packaging. Remove all unnecessary trims.” Quality is world-class, price does not have to be heavy.
• High-level of emphasis on recruiting the right kind of people, and retaining them.
• Leading by example – come in early, pick up something that’s fallen on the floor – do it first and then ask anyone else to do it
• Assembly line  – Aravind doctors do more surgeries than any other eye surgeon across the globe

 And the best one – Next Horizon Thinking…everyone  at Aravind is talking about what’ s next!

 I loved Goethe’s saying mentioned in context to Aravind “Concerning all acts of initiative and creation…The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred…Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.”

 Now…is the time to pick up that content strategy thought that has remained dormant in your mind and in the recesses of your hard drive

Now…is the time to take a look at your regular content deliverables and making them faster to create

Now…is the time to look up from your project schedule to see where you’re going and making that change to make you and your team happier about where you’re going

Now…is the time to redefine, rediscover and renew…

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