- N. R. Doshi Eye Hospital was reopened by Devdaya Charitable Trust to restore comprehensive ophthalmic care to Wankaner and surrounding talukas. The hospital provides diagnosis, treatment, and cataract surgery at highly nominal rates, and—where need dictates—cataract operations are performed free of charge. Medicines and post‑operative care are also supplied without cost to eligible patients, ensuring that financial barriers do not prevent access to sight‑saving treatment.
Childhood Blindness Prevention Project
Recognizing that eye disease affects people of all ages, the Trust identified a critical need to address pediatric eye conditions—including refractive errors, congenital defects, strabismus, and early‑onset blindness. Guided by expert findings that 80–90 percent of childhood eye conditions are treatable or preventable, Devdaya launched the Childhood Blindness Prevention Project in 2005. The project began with dedicated free camps for children, staffed by visiting pediatric ophthalmologists who provided diagnosis, medical treatment, and surgery at no cost.
Specialist Services and Government Recognition
In 2008 the Trust established a pediatric super‑specialty department at N. R. Doshi Eye Hospital with support from the Lions Club of Enfield, London. In 2009 the Government of Gujarat formally recognized the hospital as the state’s first super-specialty eye hospital for children, issuing a circular directing district blindness prevention societies to refer pediatric cases to Devdaya for free treatment and surgery. The Trust now organizes monthly free camps—held on the last Saturday of every month—offering diagnosis, surgery, medicines, and free accommodation and meals for patients and accompanying family members until discharge.
Base Hospital Status and Free Cataract Services
The Gujarat Health Department granted Base Hospital recognition to N. R. Doshi Eye Hospital on 4 September 2008, enabling the Trust to perform free cataract operations without requiring government cards or eligibility documentation. Any patient who requests a free operation is assessed and, if eligible, treated at no cost, with medicines provided free as part of the service.
Facilities, Technology, and Investment
The hospital’s operation theatre and clinical areas are built to modern standards. A laminar airflow system, funded by the Lions Club of Enfield, supports infection control in the operating theatre, while jointless flooring, advanced diagnostic equipment, and high‑quality surgical instruments ensure safe, effective care. Over the past decade the Trust has invested approximately ₹5 crore in infrastructure and services to strengthen pediatric and general ophthalmic care across the region.
Sustainability and Call for Partnership
Devdaya Charitable Trust continues to operate despite recurring annual deficits, relying on the continued support of the Gujarat Government, institutional partners, and philanthropic donors. The Trust invites voluntary service providers, eye care organizations, donors, and compassionate citizens to join its mission to eliminate preventable childhood blindness across Gujarat and to expand accessible eye care for all communities.
Donors visiting the Trust during camps
