Wajid Khan
Al Shifa Trust Eye Hospital
Addressing Inequities in Eye Care Delivery in Pakistan: The Role of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital’s Community Ophthalmology Programme
My presentation is connected to the following theme
Public Health Systems & Comparative Models
5 key short sentences highlighting the essence of my presentation
- Unequal distribution of Eye-care facilities in developing countries
- Wide gap among population regarding socioeconomic status
- Cataract among most common treatable cause of blindness
- Role of outreach programs in bridging the gap between service delivery
- Role of Al Shifa Trust in reaching out in community and providing the service free of cost
Summary
Background:
Pakistan faces significant disparities in access to eye care services, with a disproportionate concentration of ophthalmic facilities in urban centers and limited availability in rural and underserved regions. These inequities contribute to a high burden of preventable blindness and visual impairment, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
Objective:
To evaluate the impact of the Community Ophthalmology Programme of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital in bridging gaps in eye care accessibility and reducing avoidable blindness in underserved areas of Pakistan.
Methods:
This presentation reviews the structure, outreach strategies, and service delivery model of the programme. Key components include mobile eye camps, primary eye care centers, tele-ophthalmology support, and referral linkages to tertiary care facilities. Program data on patient screening, surgical interventions, and geographic coverage are analyzed to assess reach and effectiveness.
Results:
The programme has significantly expanded access to eye care in remote and marginalized communities. Through a network of community-based interventions, it has facilitated early detection of ocular diseases, increased cataract surgical rates, and improved referral compliance. The integration of outreach services with central facility has improved quality of services.
Pakistan faces significant disparities in access to eye care services, with a disproportionate concentration of ophthalmic facilities in urban centers and limited availability in rural and underserved regions. These inequities contribute to a high burden of preventable blindness and visual impairment, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
Objective:
To evaluate the impact of the Community Ophthalmology Programme of Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital in bridging gaps in eye care accessibility and reducing avoidable blindness in underserved areas of Pakistan.
Methods:
This presentation reviews the structure, outreach strategies, and service delivery model of the programme. Key components include mobile eye camps, primary eye care centers, tele-ophthalmology support, and referral linkages to tertiary care facilities. Program data on patient screening, surgical interventions, and geographic coverage are analyzed to assess reach and effectiveness.
Results:
The programme has significantly expanded access to eye care in remote and marginalized communities. Through a network of community-based interventions, it has facilitated early detection of ocular diseases, increased cataract surgical rates, and improved referral compliance. The integration of outreach services with central facility has improved quality of services.