Kathmandu, April 30: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has announced that eye health will be integrated into the national health insurance program. Inaugurating the international conference titled “In Sight of Life 2030”, organized by institutions working in the field of eye health, the Prime Minister emphasized Nepal’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. He stated that special priority is being given to integrating eye health into the primary healthcare system and essential services, particularly focusing on those at risk of losing their vision.
Referring to the completion of the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) in Nepal in 2022, Prime Minister Oli said that the findings have guided national priorities. He informed that the strategic plan for the health sector includes a commitment to increase effective cataract surgery coverage from the current 35–45% to 75% by 2030. He further stressed that no country can achieve these goals alone and highlighted the importance of global collaboration.
He stated that eye health is now considered a component of public health infrastructure and shared that vision screening and school nurse programs have been launched to promote equity and gender access in education. Nepal is currently hosting the international conference of global eye health service providers. The “In Sight of Life 2030” conference is being held in Nepal for the first time, organized by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). Representatives from IAPB member organizations from around the world, which include international philanthropic organizations, eye hospitals, academic institutions, professional associations, and corporate entities, are participating.
In Nepal, IAPB member organizations include the Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, Nepal Eye Hospital, Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, and the BP Eye Foundation. IAPB serves as an umbrella organization advocating for global cooperation in eye health and hosts international conferences annually in different countries to promote collaboration, inspire leadership, and strengthen advocacy in the sector.
The 2024 IAPB conference was held in Mexico. According to Dr. Yuddha Dhoj Sapkota, IAPB Regional Chair for South East Asia, around 500 participants from 100 countries are attending the event. Dr. Shailesh Kumar Mishra, Executive Director of Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh, stated that the conference will mainly focus on strategies and plans necessary for global eye health by 2030.
The association’s General Secretary, Bharat Bahadur Chand, mentioned that the conference will help globalize Nepal’s eye care services and contribute to the development of tourism in the country. He stated, “Hosting ‘In Sight of Life 2030’ in Nepal is a matter of pride for all of us. It will help bring Nepal’s eye care services to the global stage and significantly support our tourism development.”
Under the association, there are currently 28 eye hospitals, 160 eye care centers, and 45 district branches operating across the country. Since its establishment, the association has treated a total of 43.6 million eye patients, including Nepali and foreign nationals. Out of these, 5.1 million individuals have undergone eye surgeries. #nepal #eye #insurance
