Primary eye care in India - The vision center model

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Ophthalmology
• Health Systems Strengthening

Background:

• The World Health Organization's Global Action Plan (2014-2019) promotes Comprehensive Eye Care (CEC) for Universal Eye Health Coverage (UEHC).
• Primary Eye Care (PEC) is a crucial component of CEC, with service delivery models varying globally.
• In developing nations, primary health workers often deliver PEC, while developed countries utilize specialized professionals like optometrists.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the delivery models of Primary Eye Care (PEC) in India, focusing on the vision center (VC) approach.
• To evaluate the operational aspects of over 300 VCs managed by six mentor hospitals under the Global Sight Initiative (GSI).

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of key operational factors across VCs.
• Assessment of leadership roles, human resource management (recruitment, retention), and service delivery strategies.
• Evaluation of technology utilization, financial sustainability, supply chain management, and quality assurance mechanisms.

Main Results:

• The study details the implementation of PEC through VCs in remote rural India.
• Key performance indicators related to leadership, HR, service delivery, technology, finance, supply chain, and quality were compared.
• Insights into the operational dynamics of a large-scale PEC network were generated.

Conclusions:

• Vision centers are a viable model for delivering PEC in rural India.
• Strengthening VCs is essential for achieving Universal Eye Health Coverage and eliminating avoidable blindness.
• Addressing factors like leadership, human resources, and financial sustainability is critical for the long-term success of VCs.