Prof. Dr. Sunil Chandra Bagchi (February 17, 1929 – January 24, 2014) was an eminent eye surgeon and philanthropist. Asiatic Society Award was conferred upon him for his incredible contribution in Medical Science in the year 2009. He was the founder of Susrut Eye Foundation & Research Centre which is one of the largest eye-care providers in India and manages several super-specialty and secondary eye care institutions and primary eye hospitals and vision centers across West Bengal.
Born in Dibrugarh in the state of Assam, he was a prolific student and was educated at St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata with Chemistry Honours. Then he studied Medicine and earned M.B.B.S. degree from Calcutta Medical College, Kolkata in 1955. From 1957 to 1959 he did D.O.M.S.(Post Graduate Diploma in Ophthalmic Medicine and Surgery) and remained as a House Surgeon in Medical College while studying D.O.M.S.
He worked in Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, one of U.K.’s most famous and prestigious hospitals. After completion of F.R.C.S., he came back to India. Then he became professor of Postgraduate Ophthalmology in Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratisthan. He was also associated with Gujarati Hospital and CMRI and reached professional excellence in Ophthalmology.
Prof. Dr. Sunil Chandra Bagchi’s vision was to eradicate blindness and make this world a beautiful place to those who are still in darkness. His mission was to provide tertiary eye care services to one and all, irrespective of any social or economic barriers . In 1998, he founded Susrut Eye Foundation & Research Centre with several other philanthropists and doctors.
Initially it was a small hospital. Gradually it evolved into one of the best eye-care institutions in Eastern India. The Government of West Bengal has officially identified Susrut Eye Foundation & Research Centre as the first-of-its-kind ‘Centre of Excellence in Eye Care’ in West Bengal in collaboration with Department of Health & Family Welfare of Government of West Bengal. Susrut has been spreading its wings to manage eye care units at Salt Lake, Kamalgazi, Ruby Multispeciality Hospital, Metiaburz, Howrah, Salkia, Burdwan and Behrampore and several primary vision centers across West Bengal, as of June 2019.
Prof. Dr Sunil Chandra Bagchi was loved and revered for his simplicity, diligence and brilliance in his profession. He was not only down-to-earth, tender, humble and kind, but also generously helped others. It was a pure testimony to his willpower and efforts that he pursued his dream and could build a hospital to overcome the almost insurmountable load of blindness in our country and provide best eye care at affordable prices.
In the year 1999, Susrut Eye Foundation and Research Centre used to serve only 80 to 90 patients in the outpatient department, whereas in 2006 it in augurated a 9 storied building, adjacent to the first building in Salt Lake, to accommodate more patients.The first building was converted into inpatient department (ward and operation theatre). As of June 2019, we are serving on an average 1000 patients in OPD and 100 patients in IPD per day.
Susrut Eye Foundation & Research Centre’s strength lies in its human resources; we have a self driven team of passionate, skilled and efficient Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, dedicated nurses and staffs.we have a state-of-the-art infrastructure which complies with the international standards.
We also have a very strong teaching and training component as a part of our comprehensive ophthalmic service commitment. We are training ophthalmologists (postgraduate DNB, fellowships in all ophthalmic subspecialities and international trainees), optometrists and ophthalmic assistants.
Provide eye care community services to one and all, irrespective of any social or economical background.