Comm Eye Health Vol. 26 No. 83 2013 pp 41. Published online 18 November 2013.

About this issue

Thulasiraj Ravilla

Executive Director: Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology, Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai, India. [email protected]

Related content

Financial sustainability is probably the most important aspect of organisational sustainability, mainly because of its immediate impact: when funds are not available, activities can come to a grinding halt quite quickly.

Many of us have also learnt the hard way that external financial dependence can undermine the growth of an organisation, and even threaten its very existence – particularly when it is dependent on funding for day-to-day functioning.

In the face of ageing populations and existing inadequacies of care (including a shortage of health promotion and disease prevention services), eye care services and organisations not only have to sustain themselves in the years to come, but also to expand significantly to meet growing needs. To address this urgent topic, this issue shares case studies and suggests ways to reduce costs (including by enhancing productivity), generate income, and efficiently manage supply chains to ensure uninterrupted services; all while keeping the focus firmly on quality.