Letters | Hong Kong must not take its eyes off primary health care

Readers discuss why every district health centre should provide basic eye health services, and the effectiveness of the tobacco tax

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A 2019 World Health Organisation report estimated that 2.2 billion people are visually impaired including 1 billion whose impairment could have been avoided. Photo: SCMP

Published: 11:30am, 7 Apr 2024

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In response to “Subsidised eye tests sought for elderly” (March 24), I would like to echo the opinion expressed by Professor Christopher Leung Kai-shun of the department of ophthalmology at the University of Hong Kong and Dr Bruce Chin Man-pan, president of the Hong Kong Society of Professional Optometrists. Every district health centre should provide primary eye care services to the public.

The importance of primary care was first promulgated through the seminal Declaration of Alma-Ata in 1978 by the World Health Organization. In subsequent years, the value of primary health care has been emphasised in the WHO’s annual reports.

In 2019, the WHO published the World Report on Vision. It is estimated that 2.2 billion people are visually impaired including 1 billion whose impairment could have been avoided. The report forecasts that in view of population ageing and changes in lifestyles, eye conditions will increase immensely in the coming years. It is advocating for eye care to be an integral part of universal health coverage.

Eye and vision disorders have broad implications for health care because they may cause disability and loss of productivity. Early detection and treatment of these conditions are important in maintaining functional ability. Appropriate diagnosis and management of these conditions reduce the damage and consequent disability. Eye and vision disorders indeed have an impact on the quality of life.

With the use of computers, there are more visual symptoms that adversely affect health and performance in the workplace. Children’s vision problems need to be identified early, ensuring their eyes are functioning normally. Myopia control measures need to be implemented at critical periods of children’s growth.

A growing number of nations, including developed countries, have started to recognise the public health and fiscal benefits of emphasising greater promotional, preventive, curative and rehabilitative programmes in their health care systems because of the relatively higher set-up and operating costs of secondary and tertiary curative care infrastructure and manpower. Primary health care has become a higher priority and primary eye care is an integral part.