Hold Grants To Centers With Unqualified Eye Technicians: Indian Optometry Federation

High Court of Delhi, India has issued a notice to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW) on petition of Indian Optometry Federation (IOF).

The notice was on the illegal release of money for deployment of untrained, unqualified manpower in various Vision centers established under NPCB program on Control of Blindness.

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The petition filed by Indian Optometry Federation alleges that the government is releasing funds to the NGOs, private companies deploying untrained manpower under various misleading names of Eye Technicians.

Ajeet Bhardwaj, President, IOF, said, “As government is allowing employment of untrained and unqualified manpower by NGOS, Hospitals and lens manufacturing companies, it causes more harm to the unsuspecting people who believe that the person advising them is trained medical professional and believing their advice.”

In our petition we have pleaded the High court to put stay on the grants to NGOs, Hospitals and private companies for various vision centers being established by them and huge money being spent without any benefit to the masses, informed Bhardwaj.

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Optometrists are trained health care professionals who evaluate eye health, clarity of vision and importantly, can detect several disorders of eye like cataract and glaucoma as well as identify systemic diseases like diabetes.

As per estimate the total blind population in the country, 4.7% accounted for diabetic retinopathy and age related macular degeneration. Optometrists can help in early detection of diabetic retinopathy and in co-management of the same.

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Bhardwaj said that Optometrist in developed countries provides 70 to 90% of total primary eye care independently. “We have 143 UGC recognized institutions and approximately 40000 plus optometrists in India but as per WHO, India requires about 2 lakh optometrists,” he said.

R. S. Berwal, Secretary, IOF, said, “Blindness in India can only be reduced or controlled if optometry is given its role of primary health care where they can diagnoses and treat patients for common eye ailments and refer patients who needs specialized care and surgical intervention.”

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MOHFW unlawfully changed our duties, so that optometrists may remain subordinate and assistants in health care system. Bhardwaj said, “Without any rights and an independent optometry council, all these issues cannot be addressed.”

Source-Medindia