Ennovent Impact Investment Holding and Ankur Capital have invested an undisclosed amount in Assam-based eyecare company ERC Eye Care. Beyond Capital Fund, angel investor Sadeesh Raghavan and Ennovent Circle, which accelerates innovations for low-income markets, also participated.
ERC will use the funds to expand operations across Northeast India. “This investment will enable ERC to not only expand the number of vision centres we operate currently but also to launch our first hub hospital,” said Parveez Ubed, a Guwahati-based ophthalmologist and founder of ERC. “We also hope to further scale ERC’s IT systems, telemedicine facilities and quality standards.”
ERC provides affordable eye care to underserved communities in Northeast India through a hub and spoke model with vision centres, satellite clinics and a hub hospital. It also offers primary medical services such as optical retail, pharmacy and consultation services.
ERC’s current setup includes three vision centres in Jorhat and nearby areas. The company also runs camps to reach out to smaller villages where setting up centres is not economically viable.
The Northeastern states of India have the highest prevalence of blindness in the country. According to the World Health Organisation, 18.8% of Indians suffering from cataracts belong to Assam.
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