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Drashti Dham in Navsari Targets 1.2 Lakh Eye Surgeries a Year

SVNM Trust Plans ₹450 Crore Super Speciality Eye Hospital in Navsari

Proposed Drashti Dham will have 200 beds, 21 operation theatres and a centre to help people with vision loss live independently

The Swami Vivekananda Netra Mandir Trust (SVNM Trust) plans to build a ₹450 crore super speciality eye hospital named Drashti Dham in Supa village, Navsari district, Gujarat. The proposed facility will have 200 beds, 21 operation theatres and 64 outpatient department (OPD) rooms, with capacity for around 1,20,000 eye surgeries a year, according to the trust.

The project is planned on approximately 16 bighas of land. It will provide treatment for cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and corneal conditions, including cornea transplant surgery. The trust also says the hospital will treat complex eye disorders and offer free or low-cost care to people who cannot afford private treatment.

Drashti Dham forms part of the trust’s wider Ghar Ghar Drashti campaign, which seeks to reach people with eye problems in villages and other underserved areas. The trust has also set a goal of helping one crore people suffering from eye disorders overcome blindness. The project is expected to combine medical treatment with support for people who have already lost their sight.

Dr Bhavinbhai Patel, president of SVNM Trust, said eye problems were increasing and that the proposed hospital would bring specialist care to patients in need. He said its main purpose was to ease the difficulties faced by people with eye diseases and make treatment affordable for poorer communities.

Cataracts remain a major cause of vision loss worldwide, although surgery can restore sight in many cases. Glaucoma and retinal diseases require different forms of care, and some patients need regular follow-up treatment. Access to trained specialists, diagnostic equipment and suitable surgical facilities can affect whether people receive care in time.

For residents of rural Gujarat, the availability of specialist services closer to home could reduce the need to travel to larger cities for treatment. However, the project’s practical reach will depend on its final costs, staffing, operating capacity and arrangements for patients who need free care. The trust has not provided a construction completion date in the announcement.