15 ophthalmologists per million Indians, Pg6.

Key Highlights:

• A national survey by AIIMS Delhi reveals India has 15 ophthalmologists per million population, or one ophthalmologist per 65,221 people.
• The survey included 7,901 eye care institutes, with the majority being private (70.6%), while public and NGO providers constitute 15.6% and 13.8% respectively.
• India has 20,944 ophthalmologists and 17,849 optometrists at secondary and tertiary levels, with an optometrist-to-ophthalmologist ratio of 0.85.
• There is significant interstate variation, ranging from 127 ophthalmologists per million in Puducherry to 2 per million in Ladakh.

Detailed Insights:

• The survey, led by Dr. Praveen Vashist, assessed human resources and infrastructure for ophthalmic services, evaluating progress towards the 'Vision 2020' initiative to eradicate blindness.
• The study highlights a major imbalance in the distribution of specialists and resources, despite a wide network of eye hospitals across the country.
• The optometrist-to-ophthalmologist ratio of 0.85 is below the 'Vision 2020' target of three paramedics per ophthalmologist, indicating a need for more trained support staff.
• Densely populated states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal face acute shortages of ophthalmologists and optometrists, while Delhi, Puducherry, Goa, and Maharashtra meet or exceed recommended benchmarks.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Ophthalmologist: A medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases and disorders.
• Optometrist: A healthcare professional who provides primary vision care, including eye exams and vision correction.
• Vision 2020: A global initiative launched in 1999 by the WHO and the IAPB to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020.