Agartala, May 13. The core values of an individual shape his destiny. A person with a heart full of humanity and compassion is always respected in society. There are very few healthcare facilities in Tripura that have gained prominence like Ashvini Netralaya, the Superspeciality Eye Hospital started just two and a half years back in such a short period of time. The hospital was also honoured with an award for “The Best Emerging Super speciality Eye Hospital in the North East India” at an event held at New Delhi in 2024. The reason being the core principle of the founder: “Every patient deserves treatment. And, as a doctor, you treat a human as a human being.” The baggage behind doesn’t matter. Probably, this is why the doors of this hospital are open for people from all sections of the society.
Tripura Times caught up with Dr Anurag Majumdar, the Chairman and CEO of Ashvini Eye Care Private Limited, the parent body of Ashvini Netralaya.
A second generation doctor and a first generation entrepreneur, Dr Majumdar has established himself as a role model for many. In this exclusive interaction, he explained his views on advanced eye care and vision of branding Tripura as a hub of medical tourism. He also explained how he has made world standard eye treatment accessible for a common man living in Tripura. He has certainly emerged as the face of modern ophthalmology in Tripura. Excerpts:
Q: From your experience in eye care, what common problems have you noticed here in Tripura, and what are the possible solutions?
In general, whether it’s Tripura or anywhere else in the world, the spectrum of eye problems is quite similar. The most common issue is refractive error—glasses power. These days, myopia (nearsightedness) has become extremely common. We are increasingly seeing paediatric patients—very young children—needing glasses. I can confidently say that roughly 75–80% of children now require minus-power glasses at a very early age. One major reason is excessive screen time from infancy. Parents often give mobile phones to their children during feeding or to keep them quiet. This results in children becoming glued to screens and growing up in an environment that affects their ability to develop distance vision. Outdoor and sports activities are no longer encouraged, and even watching television is being replaced with phones or tablets, which severely damages eye development. This leads to the early onset of distance vision problems.
The second major issue, especially among young adults and middle-aged people, is Computer Vision Syndrome. Most people today work long hours in front of screens. Even I, as a doctor, spend 8–12 hours a day working, and nearly 10 of those hours are in front of a screen. This leads to dryness of the eyes and focusing difficulties, and this group of symptoms is collectively known as Computer Vision Syndrome.
Among older adults, the most common problem is cataracts, which are inevitable. Everyone will eventually develop cataracts—you, me, everyone. Once they appear, they need to be operated on. Surgery need not be done urgently in most cases unless the cataract is hampering the patient’s vision, but we usually advise treatment before complications arise.
Another major concern is Diabetic Retinopathy. A large portion of the population is diabetic, and uncontrolled diabetes severely affects the retina, causing this condition. That’s why regular eye screenings for diabetic patients are essential.
These are the most common conditions we manage daily, aside from various eye infections.
Q: Now tell us something about your hospital—Ashvini Netralaya. How did the idea come to your mind, and how did you start the journey?
I was born and brought up in Tripura. I did my schooling at Holy Cross School and then pursued my MBBS in Kolkata. After completing MBBS, I returned to Tripura for my postgraduate degree—MS in Ophthalmology—from AGMC. After completing my MS, I went outside the state to explore opportunities. I worked as an Assistant Professor at Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences for about three and a half years and also served as a Consultant Ophthalmologist. There, I was actively involved in both teaching and treating patients, fully focusing on eye care.
I also completed a fellowship in phacoemulsification, which helped me master advanced cataract surgery techniques. Once I felt equipped with the right training and knowledge, I wanted to do more. Sikkim, being a small, mountainous state, had limited population and limited exposure. Although I loved teaching, I felt that my skills could benefit a larger number of people back in my home state.
Since childhood, I had always dreamt of creating something of my own. Once I became an eye specialist, that dream found direction—starting my own eye hospital.
I didn’t want to open just another clinic or chamber like many others. I wanted to build a complete eye care centre—a place where a patient could come for a comprehensive eye check-up, undergo all necessary tests, buy spectacles, have surgeries if needed, and then return home—everything under one roof.
Even during my post-graduation, I was disappointed to see that although other states were far more advanced in ophthalmology, Tripura remained dependent on government hospitals. There was no private infrastructure for advanced eye care. For any slightly complicated procedure, we had to refer patients to Assam, West Bengal, or even South India.
I believed that had to change. What’s the point of our education and training if we cannot bring advanced treatment to our own people? That belief became the driving force behind my return to Tripura and the foundation of Ashvini Netralaya.
Today, we provide complete ophthalmic care—cataract surgeries, glaucoma surgeries, retinal procedures, and more. All our equipment is of the highest international standard. We don’t use sub-standard or local machines. Everything is imported. For example, the same top-end phacoemulsification machine used in the USA for cataract surgery is the one I’ve installed here—because I want to provide the best.
Another key goal was affordability. Earlier, many patients had to travel to other states for treatment. If we can provide the same quality here and save them Rs 10,000 to 20,000—not just on treatment but also on travel and lodging—it’s a huge relief for them.
Now, people sometimes question the variation in surgery costs. Some surgeries may cost Rs 5,000 while others go up to Rs 1.1 lakh. That’s because every patient is different—their age, eye condition, or the lens they choose. We never force patients to spend more than they can afford. The surgical technique remains the same; only the quality of lenses or consumables varies. I never tell patients what to choose; that decision is theirs. I don’t want to be seen as a salesman—I’m a doctor.
Our core ethic is to never cheat or mislead any patient. That value has helped us grow over the past two and a half years. Ashvini Netralaya was the first superspeciality eye hospital in Tripura, inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Manik Saha, The Honourable Chief Minister of Tripura.
Another area where we focused is patient hospitality. I felt that in Tripura, medical treatment often lacked warmth. So here, right from the security guard to the reception staff and doctors—everyone is trained to maintain a respectful and friendly attitude. We try to make every patient feel at home.
Ashvini Netralaya was probably the first in Tripura to blend hospitality with healthcare. And I think what sets us apart is not just our equipment, but the overall experience, ethical standards, and our commitment to quality care.
Q: Tell us something about the community partnership programmes through which many people have been served at a very affordable cost.
As I mentioned earlier, one of my core values is that everyone deserves access to treatment. Just because we’ve built a modern facility by investing crores of rupees doesn't mean we must recover that from every patient—especially those who can’t afford it.
At Ashvini Netralaya, we follow a “concession slip” system. If a patient cannot afford the full cost, our managers and counsellors assess their financial condition and recommend appropriate concessions. If needed, we increase the discount to bring the treatment within their budget. No patient should ever feel they were denied treatment due to lack of money.
Once, a patient told me he had to sell his cow to afford treatment. That deeply moved me, and I made it clear to my team—this should never happen again. If necessary, we will treat them free of cost.
We’re also empanelled under government schemes like CMJAY and PMJAY, so eligible patients can receive free treatment. We’ve also launched our own initiative—Sarva Drishti Yojana—through which cataract surgeries are done for just Rs 3,000 for priority households, and consultations are only Rs 50 (general consultation is Rs 300).
We organise at least three outreach camps every week across different districts and remote villages of Tripura. We bring the patients to our centre at our own cost, operate on them under Ayushman Bharat, keep them in air-conditioned wards, provide meals, and drop them home the next day—again, all free of charge.
We conduct around 150+ free surgeries every month through these camps, and overall we perform around 350–400 surgeries per month, including private patients. In total, we see over 2,000 patients every month.
We’ve also partnered with the Lions Club of Agartala Anish to launch the Ashvini Netralaya Vision Centre under their banner, where referred patients receive additional subsidies. We are open to collaborating with any organisation that shares our values.
One particularly special initiative was for Apna Ghar, an old-age home. On my birthday in 2024, I visited to distribute sweets and noticed many residents had untreated cataracts. We performed their surgeries completely free—not under any scheme, but at our own cost. Their smiling faces stay with me even today.
My father taught me one simple lesson: to be a good doctor, treat every human as a human. That’s the core value we carry forward in everything we do.
Q: What is your way forward? Where do you see Ashvini Netralaya in the next 5 years?
When I started, my goal was to build the best superspeciality eye hospital in Tripura. Since Ashvini Netralaya opened, other eye hospitals have started, but our reputation remains unmatched. I believe that’s because we remain true to our core values.
In the next five years, I aim to make Ashvini Netralaya the Best private Eye Hospital in the entire North-East, not just Tripura. I want Tripura to be recognised as a Centre of Excellence for eye care.
For example, many patients from Bangladesh used to visit us before political disruptions. Once that settles, I believe we can again become a preferred destination for patients from neighbouring countries. Why should they travel to Chennai or Delhi when Agartala is so much closer?
If you ask about my biggest dream, it’s this: To become the top private eye hospital in North-East India.
Q: Do you have any expansion plans?
There’s an important fact to mention: Ashvini Netralaya has only been around for two and a half years, and already, in terms of private lens consumption and quality surgeries, we are number two in the North-East.
So, give me 10 years, and I believe we can be No. 1 and put Agartala on the map of Indian eye care. My dream is to see Tripura recognised alongside cities like Chennai, Delhi, and Bangalore.
Regarding expansion, we’re currently based in West Tripura, in Agartala. But we receive many patients from North and South Tripura as well. So yes, we plan to expand to other districts soon, especially North Tripura. Eventually, I’d like to explore other underserved parts of the North-East and even beyond—possibly tier-two cities in other states.
And maybe, someday, we’ll even partner with neighbouring countries to offer quality eye care to more people. That’s my vision for Ashvini Netralaya.