Medical career: Badrinath
graduated from the Madras Medical College,
Madras in 1963.
He did his internship and a year of internal medicine residency at the
Glasslands Hospital, New York, USA. Following the study of Basic Sciences in
Ophthalmology at the New York University postgraduate Medical School, he did
residency in Ophthalmology at the Brooklyn eye and Ear Infirmary, New York, and
a fellowship with the legendary Dr. Charles Schepens, regarded by many in the
profession as "the father of modern retinal surgery, at the Retina Service
of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He
became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada in 1969 and Diplomate of the
American Board of Ophthalmology in 1970.
He returned to India in 1970
and from 1970, for a period of six years, Dr. Badrinath worked at the Voluntary
Health Services, Chennai as a consultant. He set up his private practice in
ophthalmology and vitreoretinal surgery at the H.M.Hospital (1970 to 1972) and Vijaya Hospital,
Chennai (1973 to 1978). He has over 60 peer reviewed publications till date.
The Birth of Sankara Nethralaya:
In 1974, Dr. Badrinath had the opportunity
to serve his spiritual guru, Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekerendra Saraswathi
Swamigal, the 68th Peetathipathi of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam and it was in 1976
when addressing a group of doctors, Hindu spiritual guru, Sri Jayendra
Saraswathi, the Shankaracharya of
the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam spoke of the need to create a hospital with a
missionary spirit. Heeding the guru's words, Dr. Sengamedu Srinivasa Badrinath,
along with a group of philanthropists founded the Medical & Vision Research
Foundations in Madras
in 1978 with an object of practicing quality eye care in ophthalmology,
training and teaching of Ophthalmology and pursue research in Ophthalmology.
Sankara Nethralaya, a charitable not-for-profit eye hospital is a unit of the
Medical Research Foundation.
In a solemn function held at the premises
of the Vijaya Hospital, Chennai with Semmangudi
Srinivasa Aiyer offering the prayer, the project was inaugurated.
About Sankara Nethralaya(SN):
In 35 years, Sankara Nethralaya has grown
into a super specialty institution for ophthalmic care and receives patients
from all over the country and from abroad.
Sankara Nethralaya is one of the leading super speciality institutions
for ophthalmic care in India.
Sankara Nethralaya, meaning “The
Temple of the Eye”, was founded in 1978 as a unit of Medical Research
Foundation. It is a charitable, not-for-profit institution.
Located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Sankara Nethralaya has grown tremendously
since its commencement— thanks to the unconditional and generous support
received from all quarters of society — and has gained international excellence
for its quality and affordable eye care services. Its goals include providing
quality ophthalmic care at affordable cost to patients, free eye care treatment
to indigent patients and teaching and training an army of personnel to combat
blindness affecting the population of India.
Today, the institute has over 75
eye care professionals examining around 1,800 patients and performing around
140 surgeries every day. It offers state-of –the-art facilities and has 32
operation theatres equipped with the latest equipment.
We have a team of dedicated
consultants who strive to ensure quality eye care to patients in all sub
specialities of ophthalmology including cornea, glaucoma, neuro ophthalmology,
ocular oncology, orbital oculoplasty, paediatric ophthalmology, uveitis and
vitreoretinal.
Sankara Nethralaya is a one-stop
referral ophthalmic institution adhering to the strictest norms of quality.
It is also the FIRST eye hospital
in Asia to get an ISO quality certification
and NABH/ NABL too.
Community Services
In a developing country like India, the
rural population still has difficulty in accessing quality eye treatment. 70%
of the population lives in rural areas whereas 70% of the ophthalmologists are
based in urban and semi-urban areas. At the heart of every endeavour of Sankara Nethralaya is a strong focus and
emphasis on COMMUNITY SERVICE, which has been vehemently pursued over
the years. The community service initiatives include conducting eye-camps in
rural areas, conducting free surgeries to those with an income of less than Rs.
3,500 per month, through the Jaslok Community Ophthalmic
Centre — a 75 bedded hospital with five operation theatres —
and successfully and relentlessly taking mobile teleophthalmology benefits to
the door steps of the poor in rural India. Sankara Nethralaya also conducts screening camps at schools and holds
awareness programmes. The pride and hall mark of Sankara Nethralaya’s community initiative is the cost free eye care
service that it extends to the Jawans and army personnel at all levels.
Protecting the eyesight of those who are engaged in the protection of the
nation is a service we extend with our heads held high with pride and patriotic
fervour.
Sankara Nethralaya is
the pioneer in mobile teleophthalmology practice in the country.
Teleophthalmology holds great potential in improving the quality, access, and
affordability in health care for rural patients. Taking medical services to the
doorstep of the underprivileged in rural India, a fully equipped van with
all medical and telemedicine facilities visits the rural areas where patients
are screened thoroughly by a team of optometrists for various eye disorders,
including cataract, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. A glass dispensing unit
ensures that those in need of spectacles are provided one at the campsite at a
very nominal cost. Based on their diagnosis, the patients are brought to Sankara Nethralaya for further treatment,
which is provided free of cost.
Our efforts are whole heartedly supported by social service organizations such
as the Tulsi Trust, the Lions Club, the Singvi Charitable Trust, the Sai Trust,
to name a few.
We began our teleophthalmology
project in 2003 and so far nearly 3 lakh patients have benefited from the rural
teleophthalmology camps that Sankara Nethralaya
has held in four States in the country.
Quality Initiatives
Sankara Nethralaya strives for
continuous quality improvement and complies with international standards to
implement quality systems.
All patients — both paying and non-paying — receive the same care at our
hospitals. The hospital introduced the Total Quality Management policies
at its institution. Trained dedicated personnel and ophthalmic nursing
assistants provide twenty-four hour nursing care. Our in-patient services are
fully supported by a drug counter and canteen facilities for the patients as
well as their attendants. The Main
Campus has received NABH accreditation & NABL for its Laboratories.
Spreading our wings
Apart from having five branches in
Chennai and one in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, we also offer
our services at Mukundapur in Kolkata (West Bengal), Tirupathi and Sri City
(Andhra Pradesh)
Every year we receive a significant
number of patients from across the world. In recent times, Sankara
Nethralaya has forged ties with the Sultanate of Oman and
Mauritius
to offer quality eye care treatment to their citizens.
Mobile
Surgical Bus – The next level in outdoor community ophthalmology
As an eye care institution with a strong
orientation on reaching out high quality eye care to the poor and needy right
at their doorstep, we are proud to say that our outreach programmes have kept
pace with the technological advancements in our laboratories and wards and have
become more sophisticated in nature and offer a larger coverage of patients and
reach out to the most inaccessible regions. We started our outreach programmes 3
decades ago in the form of regular vans that cover the rural and semi-urban
areas screening the locals for cataract with those found needing surgery being
transported to the base hospital for surgery, this moved to the next stage of
mobile tele-ophthalmology units aided by advanced INSAT communication which
made it possible to do more advanced eye examinations with the help of a remote
operated Fundus camera whose images could be viewed by an ophthalmologist at
the base hospital.
We are happy to bring to your notice
that we have evolved to the next stage in community outreach service through
the Mobile surgical bus or the twin bus a Medico-engineering marvel, a State of
the Art, first of its kind in Asia operation theatre on wheels developed in
collaboration with IIT-Madras, which facilitates the carrying out of cataract
surgeries incorporating recent advances like implanting of Intraocular lens and
phaco-emulsification as ambulatory surgery right at the doorstep of the rural
and tribal patient, totally cost free. It was most heartening to note during
our pilot run and subsequent campaigns of the mobile surgical units in the
remote regions of Vellore, Pernambut, Thiruvannamalai and Chunampet that the
old, feeble, handicapped and those who did not have the means to make their way
to a base hospital due to socio-economic reasons even if cost free surgery was
available turned up in good numbers to avail the facility when it was brought
to their door step.
Sankara Nethralaya Diabetic Retinopathy Project (SNDRP)
SNDRP was initiated in 2003 to combat rising
prevalence of diabetes related-blindness. The six major components of SNDRP
were rural diabetic retinopathy screening program, urban epidemiological &
molecular genetic study, tele-screening, urban incidence study of DR and rural
epidemiological study of prevalence of DR.
Rural Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
Program
An important objective was to create a
comprehensive diabetic retinopathy screening model for rural population.
Between 2003 and 2006, 458 awareness meetings were conducted to spread the
message on diabetes and diabetic retinopathy; over 150,000 people were
benefited.
Urban Epidemiological and Molecular Genetic Study
A population based study, designed to
elucidate the prevalence of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in urban Chennai,
Tamilnadu, India. Using stratified random
sampling, based on socioeconomic status, 5999individuals above the age of 40
years were enrolled. All known and newly diagnosed diabetics underwent
comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation including 450 four field digital fundus
photographs. Prevalence of DM was 28.2% Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in
population with diabetes mellitus was 18.0%.
Tele diabetic retinopathy screening
Tele diabetic retinopathy screening
model was initiated to reach remote rural areas in both Tamilnadu and
Karnataka. A mobile van having a customized ophthalmic office with satellite
connectivity to the base hospital was used. The fundus images were transmitted
real time by satellite connectivity for interpretation and diagnosis and
counseling. The procedure was found to be cost-effective; telescreening is an
important tool for mass screening of diabetic population in the rural areas.
Urban Incidence Study of Diabetic
Retinopathy is an
ongoing study initiated in 2008 to to find the 4 year incidence of Diabetic
Retinopathy in Urban Cohort. The clinical, genetic and biochemical risk factors
for progression of retinopathy will be elucidated.
Rural epidemiological study of
prevalence of DR: Based on
findings of rising prevalence of DR from our self reported rural population
screening program, a rural epidemiological study of DR is initiated in 2008 to
find the prevalence of DR in rural areas. The study is conducted through a well
equipped mobile van with laboratory and comprehensive eye examination setup.
Education:
Education, we believe, is a powerful
tool to empower individuals. Sankara Nethralaya
is a recognised academic institution, conducting graduate, postgraduate,
research, fellowship and continuing medical education programmes. The
institution has trained more than 300 Ophthalmologists all over India.
It also publishes books to share
scientific practice in eye care. One-third of all ophthalmology research
publications, from India,
come from Sankara Nethralaya.
Sankara Nethralaya also has
collaborations with academic and research institutions around the world.
While providing quality and
affordable eye care service to all sections of society is our area of focus,
the back-up for eye care delivery comes from the constant innovative research
undertaken by yet another arm of the group – the Vision Research Foundation.
Birth of The Sankara Nethralaya
Academy (TSNA):
In January 2010, Sankara
Nethralaya decided to scale up the Academic activities
through setting up of “The Sankara Nethralaya
Academy”. The Sankara
Nethralaya Academy would function as a unit of
Medical Research Foundation.
The SN Academy is avowed to employ a
system of educating people imparting knowledge through instruction courses,
training classes, and usher in newer training/teaching methodologies including
the use of IT. The objective is to teach courses that deal with A to Z in
healthcare services.
As part of the SN Academy, Certificates
and fellowships program’s of various durations would be awarded at the end of
successful completion of different courses. Importance to practical training
would be of utmost importance definitely necessitating smaller number of
students per class and longer duration of courses. Both Distance education
program and residential form of education would be imparted.
Recognitions
for Dr S S Badrinath:
The Government of India awarded Dr
Badrinath Padma Sri in 1983
Recipient of Dr B. C. Roy National
Award (1991).
Padma Bhushan in 1999 from The
Government of India
He is a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
He has been bestowed honorary
doctorate degrees by Annamalai and Tamilnadu
Dr M.G.R. Medical University,
Chennai, in 1995.
Dhanvantri Award, in 1999.
Dadhabhai Naoroji Award (2004)
Rameshwardas Birla Award (2004)
Life Time Achievement Award given by
the International Medical Integration Council & Optimal Healthcare Group
(India) in 2004,
Qimpro Platinum Standard-Healthcare
Award in (2005)
Hall of Fame Award (2005)
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the
Year Award (2005)
Felicitation given by St. John
Ambulance (24th December 2005)
Award of Excellence (25th December
2005)
Life Time Achievement Award given by
ICFAI in 2005
Mahaveer Award (11th January 2006)
Nayanashri Award given by the 25th
Madhva Tatvajnana Sammelana in 2006.
ICO Golden Apple Award for the Best
Clinical Teacher in Ophthalmology in the APAO region 2006 by APAO - June 2006.
“The Distinguished Citizen Award -
2006” given by Hamsadhwani – a cultural organization on 17.8.2006
Recipient of Dr Subramanian Oration
Award presented by Karnataka Ophthalmic Society at its 25th Annual Conference
on 11th November 2006 at Hubli
Humanity Award given by the Hindustan
Chamber of Commerce – Chennai on 29.11.2006
9th Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati
National Eminence Award given by The South Indian Education Society, Mumbai on
9.12.2006
Lakshmipat Singhania – IIM, Lucknow
National Leadership Awards 2006 given by the Indian Institute of Management,
Lucknow from the hands of the Honourable Prime Minister in Delhi on 23.12.2006
IMC Juran Quality Award from Indian
Merchants’ Chamber on 13.3.2007 at Mumbai
Received Corporate Citizen Award for
the year 2006 by Economic Times of India on 27.10.2007 at Mumbai on behalf of
Sankara Nethralaya
Recipient of Sun Life Time Achievement
Award given by Bank of Baroda on 20.7.2008 at Mumbai
Recipient of Dr K V Thiruvengadam
Award for Health Care for the year 2008-09 in Chennai on 15.10.2008, Medical
Excellence Award function by Priya Vison, Chennai
Shri V Krishnamurthy Award for Excellence
by Centre for Organization Development (2009)
Received the Life Time Achievement
Awards from Madras City Ophthalmological Association on 29.11.2009 and was The
Chairman of The Telehealth Society of India
Recipient of CNBC TV - 18 India
Business Leader Awards at Durbar Hall, Taj Palace Hotel on 3.12.2009 S P Marg,
Diplomatic Enclave, New Delhi
Life Time Achievement Award by FICCI
on 20.2.2010, Felicitated by The Rotary Club of Chennai Galaxy in Chennai on
27.6.2010
Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by University of Missouri, USA
Public Service Excellence Award by
All India
Management Association on 21.2.2011
Lifetime achievement award by M V
Hospital for Diabetes on 13.3.2011
Received “Seva Rathna” award from
Srirangan Srimad Andavan Ashramam on 10.4.2011
“Life Time Achievement Award by AIOS
at Cochin on
2.2.2012
“Sat Paul Mittal National Award 2012”
by Nehru Sidhant Kendra Trust at Ludhiana
on 17.11.2012
Life Time Achievement Award by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) on 3.12.12 in Chennai
He was the Honorary Ophthalmic
Surgeon to the President of India.
He is a consultant in ophthalmology
to the Armed Forces of India and a non-official member of the Armed Forces
Medical Research committee.
The Lions Club and the Rotarians have
also honoured him in many occasions.
Doyen of Madras Award on 29.8.2013.
Dr S S Badrinath has many scientific
publications to his credit and works hard even today at the age of 73 for a
brighter tomorrow for Sankara Nethralaya and Ophthalmology in India.
Dr S S Badrinath will be honoured
Living Legend Award by the President of India on 14.12.2013.
All his staff and doctors are says Dr
S S Badrinath is not only Living Legend also Loving Legend to all.
He
is the modest doctor with a great vision and morever he is an
excellent human being