The link between eye health and universal health coverage
The importance of eye health for universal health coverage is widely recognized. Both World Vision Report and the Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health emphasize the need for countries to ensure that eye health is represented in their UHC planning, resources and financing. While progress has been made, eye health services must be an integral part of universal health coverage to address challenges arising from changing population demographics, inequalities in access, and projected increases in the need for eye health services.
He political statement of the United Nations (UN) high-level meeting on universal health coverage in 2023 recognized the burden of unaddressed and avoidable blindness and visual impairment. Member States committed to “strengthen efforts to address the specific physical and mental health needs of all people as part of universal health coverage.” […] even for eye health conditions.”
The UN General Assembly resolution Vision for all He also recognized the role of eye care in achieving the SDGs. The report explicitly links eye health to educational attainment, economic empowerment, and gender equity. Eye health is also crucial to ensuring good health, mental health and well-being and building strong and resilient healthcare systems.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least one billion people around the world have vision problems that could be prevented or treated. For countries to achieve the SDGs, including SDG 3, eye health needs to be considered and included in universal health coverage. The provision of eye health services within the planning, processes and financing of universal health coverage can also contribute $410 billion to the global economy.
