Become our partner
Who we are
In order to expand access to vision care and eyeglasses for the underprivileged, Care Netram in association with Good Vision Glasses, Germany, have come together to conduct free vision campaigns in rural and semi-urban communities that have limited access to eye care services. Many individuals that attend our vision camps have never before received an eye exam.
About Us
Prashant Pachisia, Founder and CEO, Care Netram
“Millions of people around the world are in need of eyeglasses but cannot afford to buy them or simply have no access to them. Children are unable to learn, adults struggle to provide for their families. We would like to do something about it. Our vision is a world where everyone can have access to affordable eyeglasses to reach his or her fullest potential.”
Martin Aufmuth, Founder and Chairman OneDollarGlasses
Meet the Team
Prashant Pachisia
CEO, Care Netram
Pramod Pachisia
COO, Care Netram
Antje Christ
Country Coordinator, India
Piyush Khetan
VP, Care Netram
Debasis Mohapatra
Project Head
Gopinath Das
Senior Optometrist
Tapan Kumar Das
Senior Executive – Production, Care Netram
Prashant Kumar Nayak
Executive, Care Netram
INDIA – BLIND CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
India is now home to the world’s largest number of blind people. Of the 37 million people across the globe who are blind, over 15 million are from India. What’s worse,75% of the blind in this country suffer from avoidable conditions that were caused due to lack of awareness and shortage of optometrists , What’s more, affected vision is not an individual problem because it not only impacts people’s personal life, but also reduces their skills and productivity.
In India, there are only about 12,000 ophthalmologists for a 1 billion-plus population, resulting in a ratio of one ophthalmologist for every 90,000 people. In sharp contrast, there is one ophthalmologist for every 15,800 people in the US. Even bigger problem is the spread of the ophthalmologists as most of them are located in the urban cities and hence the reach for rural poor is almost negligible.
The WHO estimates that poor vision results in an economic productivity loss of $275 billion worldwide, with India losing $37 billion. In fact, according to a study conducted among Indian workers, good eye-care and vision correction led to a 30% increase in their incomes and a 25% increase in productivity. This represents the largest ever recorded productivity increase from any health intervention.
To conclude lack of Awareness, Shortage of Optometrist resulting in high cost and poor access of availing the eye care services especially in rural India are the main causes of India known as blind capital of the world.
How we operate
Glasses - Made in India from German Technology
The eyeglasses consist of an extremely lightweight, flexible and very durable metal frame which uses hypo allergic spring-steel wire sourced from Germany.
The metal frames are manufactured on a custom-made bending machine, which is virtually maintenance free and requires no electricity. They come in differently colored temples, sizes and account for varying pupil distances.
The spherical lenses are prefabricated clip-in lenses, made from hardened polycarbonate and available in diopters ranging from -10 to +10. All the materials are sourced from Germany and the spectacles are made in India at a very low cost and are durable.
The eyeglasses are designed under quality control system with strict supervision and guarantees with quality standards.
The Training
Care Netram trains the rural youth to become opticians. The training material is designed by One Dollar Glasses, Germany.
In Odisha, experienced opticians and optometry technicians have so far educated 70 Rural Opticians. The rural opticians conduct vision screening events in the villages and dispense appropriate spectacles to the people and refer cases that require medical intervention to hospitals. We have also started training women self-help groups in villages to become opticians and eyewear producer.
The Distribution
The modular assembly system of the eyeglasses designed by One Dollar Glasses, Germany allows for fast, individual and cost effective care.
Immediately after the free eye screening, the patients who are in need of glasses receives it at real time. No expensive grinding equipment is needed and a second consultation for fitting the glasses is not required, thus saving time and transport cost.
The Social Business
Care Netram is operating in India as a social business. This means that the aim first and foremost of the enterprise is to merely cover costs and make social impact.
This approach enables us to offer our products at a lower price compared to profit-seeking businesses. By this we can live up to our conviction that a good vision is a human right and thus eye care services to poor is a social obligation.
How we operate
Glasses
Glasses - Made in India from German Technology
The eyeglasses consist of an extremely lightweight, flexible and very durable metal frame which uses hypo allergic spring-steel wire sourced from Germany. The metal frames are manufactured on a custom-made bending machine, which is virtually maintenance free and requires no electricity. They come in differently colored temples, sizes and account for varying pupil distances.
The spherical lenses are prefabricated clip-in lenses, made from hardened polycarbonate and available in diopters ranging from -10 to +10. All the materials are sourced from Germany and the spectacles are made in India at a very low cost and are durable.
The eyeglasses are designed under quality control system with strict supervision and guarantees with quality standards.
Training
The Training
Care Netram trains the rural youth to become opticians. The training material is designed by One Dollar Glasses, Germany.
In Odisha, experienced opticians and optometry technicians have so far educated 70 Good Vision Technicians. The GVTs conduct vision screening events in the villages and dispense appropriate spectacles to the people and refer cases that require medical intervention to hospitals. We have also started training women self-help groups in villages to become opticians and eyewear producer.
Distribution
Distribution
The modular assembly system of the eyeglasses designed by One Dollar Glasses, Germany allows for fast, individual and cost effective care. Immediately after the free eye screening, the patients who are in need of glasses receives it at real time. No expensive grinding equipment is needed and a second consultation for fitting the glasses is not required, thus saving time and transport cost.
Social Business
Social Business
Care Netram is operating in India as a social business. This means that the aim first and foremost of the enterprise is to merely cover costs and make social impact. This approach enables us to offer our products at a lower price compared to profit-seeking businesses. By this we can live up to our conviction that a good vision is a human right and thus eye care services to poor is a social obligation.
Care Netram Schools
Studies show that over 80 percent of early learning for children are based on visual stimulus. What that means is children learn primarily recognition of objects and figures through vision. Impaired or bad vision adversely affects the overall development of the school children.
Care Netram takes vision for School children seriously. In response to the report that in India a big chunk of primary and secondary school goers suffer from bad vision, Care Netram has run eye camps in associate schools. Till date over 4000 students have been given free eye tests. To help the children with spectacles, CSR linkage with corporates were done by Care Netram team and over 1800 spectacles have been dispersed.
Here’s to a vision of a better future.
Care Netram Rural
India is a populous country. According to recent UN data, India’s population in 2018 is grossly standing at 1.35 billion. Now the most remarkable factor is around 67 percent of the people dwells in rural areas. Rural activation for affordable healthcare is thus a prime mission of Care Netram. Team Care Netram has been conducting eye camps, spectacle distribution camps, awareness campaigns and more to make sure that the underprivileged get the benefit of affordable eye care.
Till date over 38,000 eye checks have been conducted. 17,000 out of these needed spectacles but only 12,000 can afford spectacles even at a bare minimum rate. There is a huge need for rural eye care and Care Netram is poised to make inroads into the far reaches of the country.
Partners
A MOU has been signed between Care Netram and ECOS Rotary Royal Eye Hospital, Bhubaneswar. In a milestone achievement, over 300 cataract patients have been benefited by the joint venture of Care Netram and Rotary.
MOU signed between Care Netram and Kar Hospital, Bhubaneswar.
MOU signed between Care Netram and Odisha Catholic Health Association (OCHA), Bhubaneswar.
MOU signed between Care Netram and Trilochan Netralaya, Odisha
Become our Partner
You run or own a hospital, clinic, optical shop or pharmacy and you wish to initiate or expand eyecare services for your customer base?
You work for an (international) organisation and are seeking implementing partners in primary eyecare?
You work for a business and are looking into options for corporate social responsibility?
Please get in touch with us to discuss.
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