At Aravind, we have been successful in adding tremendous efficiency and increased output by systematizing the activities in the management as well as clinical areas. In fact, it is the system that enables the individuals to work so efficiently through the optimum utilization of the available resources. The system continues to work efficiently because of the vision and determination of the people in the top management.

But, day by day the organization is growing and becomes more and more complex in each and every areas of its operation. Today, each of our specialty clinics is as big as a small hospital in terms of patient load; and becomes much more diverse having its own varied activities such as training, research projects and other special initiatives. The patient load is increasing and has an even greater potential to grow in the sub-specialty areas. In other areas such as teaching & training, research and project management also the growth potential is enormous. To realize this potential and execute the work in a smooth way, we require professionally trained people of high caliber to manage the various activities in the system.

We are partnering with more than 200 hospitals through teaching, training and consultancy. Requests have been coming from partners in all parts of the world to either supply managers or to take charge of the administration. We have also recently decided to take on management of hospitals with a hospital at Amethi being the first experiment. This external opportunity has a great growth potential. There is need to have trained management professionals who can independently manage and run an eye hospital along the lines of Aravind.

It is in this context that the concept of a Fellowship Program in Eye Hospital Management has been conceived and developed. The ultimate aim of the program is to find out potential young health management professionals, and train them to meet the requirement in our own system as well as the partner institutions.

The training for the fellows has been designed in such a way to provide structured inputs on the clinical, management and community aspects of eye care; to develop the managerial skills and capacities; to have interaction and networking with experts in the field of health management and eye care; interaction with community organizations & INGO’s and so on. On the job training would be given in all the administrative and clinical areas (including the sub-specialty areas) of the system. During the training period the Fellows are placed in several challenging positions within the Aravind system and in several partner hospitals around the country.

These Fellows, on completion of the training, will be employed by us as Managers.

For those managing clinical areas, their primary responsibilities will be:

• Increasing the patient load
• Managing the increased patient flow
• Reducing waiting time
• Ensuring high patient satisfaction
• Helping the senior personnel in the ongoing activities like training programs, project management, research projects
• Day to day operations management
• Generating Statistical information for decision making and planning

For more details write to sanil@aravind.org or call the Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology at 0452-4356500