Extended Summary Community of Practice for Human Resources
The Community of Practice for Human Resources of the World Association of Eye Hospitals met online on September 11, 2025, with participants joining from across the globe. The session focused on human resource management, staff well-being, and shared challenges in the eye care sector.
Moderated by Maaike van Zuilen, Global Lead of the World Association of Eye Hospitals and Jos Hubers, founder of this community of practice and HR director of The Rotterdam Eye Hospital, the Netherlands.
During this session we’ve had two speakers. Dr. Iram Maqsood from Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital, Pakistan and Alan Kastner from Clinica Oftalmologia Pasteur, Chile.
1. Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital (Pakistan)
- Overview: The largest eye hospital network in Pakistan, operating five hospitals with two more under construction. The network is donation-funded, treating a large proportion of patients free of charge.
- HR Structure: A combination of centralized processes (based in Rawalpindi headquarters) and decentralized management across regional hospitals. Recruitment is partly centralized, with local involvement in interviews and onboarding.
- Burnout Prevention & HR Initiatives:
- Occupational health & safety: ergonomic training, infection control, fire safety, and on-site psychologists.
- Wellness programs: stress management workshops, free health checkups, vaccinations.
- Work-life balance: shorter working hours (ending at 2:45 pm), overtime pay, and rotational shifts.
- Recognition & rewards: performance-based bonuses, “star performer” awards, and team celebrations.
- Team building: regular meetings, sports weeks, staff excursions, and women-focused initiatives.
- Fair compensation: gratuity, insurance, regular salary benchmarking, and retention bonuses.
- Performance management: 360-degree reviews, development plans, and succession planning.
- Impact: Reduced sick leave, higher satisfaction scores, more effective training outcomes, and a stronger sense of inclusion across all hospitals.
2. Pasteur Clinic (Chile)
- WAEH Research Project Proposal: A multi-center study on anesthetic modalities in ophthalmic surgery.
- Objectives:
- Compare anesthetic techniques across hospitals (topical, injections, systemic sedation).
- Measure patient-reported pain levels during cataract and glaucoma surgeries.
- Analyze time, staff, and cost implications.
- Approach: Collect digital data during routine surgeries, followed by centralized analysis and publication.
- Challenge: Ensuring participation without adding to staff burnout.
- Invitation: Other hospitals encouraged to join and share their experiences.
3. Group Discussion
- Hospitals from India, the UK, and others shared insights:
- India’s Aravind Eye Hospital switched away from retrobulbar anesthesia due to complications.
- Moorfields Eye Hospital (UK) uses nurse-led anesthesia and volunteers to hold patients’ hands, which significantly improves comfort.
- Participants emphasized the need to keep projects small, practical, and collaborative.
4. Closing Remarks
- Upcoming annual meeting in Switzerland and France (October 7–11, 2025) was announced.
- Key takeaway: despite geographic differences, hospitals face similar HR challenges (work-life balance, staff recognition, safe practices). Sharing strategies internationally strengthens the ability to support staff and improve patient care.