Opened in 1976, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai is the first Aravind centre and the headquarters of Aravind Eye Care System. Started with just 11 beds, the hospital has grown to accommodate 330 paying patients and 920 free patients. The hospital receives patients from all over the country and also from other nations like Nigeria, Srilanka, Sultanate of Oman, Maldives and even USA. The hospital is an accredited teaching institution and has also received the entry-level certification by NABH.