Strategies for strengthening eye care in India: a consensus-based recommendations.

UNLABELLED: India is committed to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness "2030 In Sight" recommendations to improve eye health and visual impairment. Public health experts in India were invited to discuss and recommend strategies to reduce blindness by 2030 and consolidate the gains related to quality eye care by 2047. The experts reviewed the World Report on Vision, WHO's 2030 In Sight strategy, and the status of eye care in India, drawing on published literature and policy documents. They proposed 10 interlinked strategic pillars: universal coverage, human resources, financial sustainability, equity, partnerships, health information systems, quality care, elderly and marginalised eyecare, technology adoption, and monitoring of key indices. Using the Likert scale the experts arrived at consensus on the following recommendations: task shifting, measuring quality eyecare indicators, integrating health services, leveraging technology, expanding cashless services, and improving referral eyecare system. The recommendations also include target-oriented spending, centralised management of available resources, and interministerial commitment.

FUNDING: Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation, Hyderabad, India.