Bangladesh has set an ambitious target to eliminate cataract-related blindness within the next four to five years by expanding access to surgery, introducing artificial intelligence-supported eye care and strengthening services across the country.
State Minister for Health Dr M A Muhit announced the plan on Thursday, saying that the government would work alongside private healthcare providers and non-governmental organisations to reduce preventable blindness through a coordinated national effort.
Speaking at a stakeholder consultation on advanced eye care at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, he said, "Hundreds of thousands of cataract operations would be carried out each year under a nationwide programme focused on older people.”
The initiative is intended to tackle one of the country’s leading causes of avoidable blindness while improving access to treatment for vulnerable communities.
Muhit also said, "The government also plans to expand advanced eye care services using artificial intelligence and other modern technologies to improve diagnosis and treatment, particularly for low-income and marginalised people.”
Although Bangladesh has made notable progress in eye health through collaboration between public institutions, private organisations and development partners, he said the absence of a unified reporting system remains a significant weakness.
To address this, the government is preparing a five-year national perspective plan that will introduce a common reporting framework and strengthen the delivery of eye care services nationwide.
According to the minister, the first phase of the plan will review existing eye care facilities and assess services available at district hospitals.
Later stages will focus on improving infrastructure, increasing the number of trained professionals where needed and expanding service capacity.
The strategy also seeks to broaden access to eye care beyond older patients.
School screening programmes are expected to identify children with vision problems at an early stage and provide corrective glasses where necessary. Similar services are planned for employees in factories, offices and other workplaces through regular eye health checks and access to spectacles.
Muhit also highlighted the growing challenge posed by diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that can lead to vision loss if left untreated.
He also stated, "Advances in technology are making it easier to deliver specialist eye care closer to communities, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances.”
He added that modern eye care services should not be concentrated in major cities but extended to remote and underserved areas to ensure more equitable access.
The minister identified the shortage of skilled eye care professionals as one of the sector’s biggest challenges. He called for greater investment in training ophthalmologists and other specialists, alongside expanding both public and private institutions responsible for professional education.
The consultation also heard from the acting director of the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, Prof Dr A S M M Quadir. Representatives from the ARK Foundation and the World Health Organization presented a keynote paper outlining priorities for reducing visual impairment and preventing blindness in Bangladesh.
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