Rethinking eye health systems to achieve universal coverage: the role of research
July 10, 2014

Achieving universal coverage in eye care remains a tremendous challenge as 226 million people in the world remain visually impaired, the majority from avoidable causes. The impact of eye care interventions has been constrained by the limited capacities of health systems in low-income and middle-income countries to deliver effective eye care services. Services for eye health are still not adequately integrated into the health systems of low-income and middle-income countries.

This new paper from Karl Blanchet, Clare Gilbert and Don de Savigny contributes to the current debates on systems thinking in eye health. The author contend that radical rethinking and deeper development of eye health systems are necessary to achieve VISION 2020 goals. Responding to the challenges of chronic eye diseases will require systems thinking, analysis and action, based on evidence from health systems research.

Read the full article online now in the British Journal of Opthalmology