Guru Nanak Eye Centre

History and background

Guru Nanak Eye Centre (GNEC) was conceived in 1971 to upgrade the ophthalmology department into a full-fledged institution and is attached to Maulana Azad Medical College. Its outpatient block became operational in 1977, while indoor wards and operation theatres continued to run in Irwin Hospital until a 184-bed ward block and operating facilities were added to the campus in 1993. It is run by the Government of Delhi and is located on Maharaja Ranjit Singh Marg, near the Ram Lila Grounds and New Delhi Railway Station.

Specialities and centres of excellence

The centre has six ophthalmic units, with two units posted together in the outpatient department, wards and operation theatre. Its super-speciality clinics include cornea, retina, glaucoma, contact lens services, neuro-ophthalmology for optic nerve and central nervous system disorders, paediatric ophthalmology, and squint and strabismus. Clinics run on scheduled days of the week, and a well-supported investigative laboratory and pharmacy complete the service.

Technology and facilities

All outpatient services are provided free of cost, with 24 to 28 ophthalmologists available in the outpatient department every day. GNEC is a teaching and training institution offering ophthalmology residency programmes, and its faculty and residents have won a notable share of All India Ophthalmological Society awards.

International patients

As a government teaching institute, GNEC is best suited to patients who need a public-sector academic centre with broad ophthalmic expertise. Because procedures and queues follow government rules, it is worth confirming timings and waiting lists in advance and comparing with private options.

How AlisPro MediTours supports your treatment

AlisPro MediTours is a medical travel coordination service, not a hospital. We do not provide medical treatment, and clinical decisions always rest with your treating doctors. What we do is make the journey to this hospital easier to plan and less stressful to manage.

After you send your medical reports through our enquiry form, our coordinators share them with the hospital's international patient team and help you obtain a written opinion and an estimated cost. If you decide to go ahead, we can help with the medical visa invitation letter, flight planning, airport pickup, accommodation near the hospital, local transport, interpreter support and appointment scheduling. During your stay we stay in touch with you and your family, and after you return home we help arrange follow-up consultations and access to your records.

Costs, package inclusions and waiting times vary by hospital, doctor and treatment, so we recommend asking for a written estimate that clearly states what is and is not included.

Before you travel

Preparation makes a big difference to how smoothly a medical trip goes. Gather your recent medical reports, imaging (with the discs or digital files), a list of current medicines and any previous operation summaries, and share them early so the hospital can give a realistic opinion before you travel.

Ask the hospital or your coordinator for the expected length of stay, the likely total cost and what it includes, whether a family member may accompany you, and what follow-up will be needed after you return home. Confirm the treating doctor's name, the accreditation of the department you will use and how emergencies are handled.

Most international patients enter India on a medical visa, which normally requires an invitation letter from the hospital. Check the validity of your passport, arrange travel insurance that covers medical travel where possible, and plan for extra days in case treatment or recovery takes longer than expected. Keep copies of all documents on your phone and in your luggage.

Travel guide: Delhi

Delhi is served by Indira Gandhi International Airport, and hospitals in the capital are usually 30 to 60 minutes from the airport depending on traffic and time of day. The Delhi Metro reaches most neighbourhoods and is a fast way to travel around the city, while taxis and ride-hailing apps are widely available. Visitors staying for treatment often choose hotels or serviced apartments near the hospital in areas such as South Delhi, Saket, Vasant Kunj or Central Delhi. The weather is hottest from April to June, rainy in July to September, and most comfortable from October to March. Hindi and English are widely spoken.