Role of mid level ophthalmic professionals in Nepal - experiences to share!

Mid level ophthalmic professionals are one of the most vital cogs in the service delivery initiatives of any eye care programme.

Specially trained professionals like Para-medical Ophthalmic Assistants (PMOA) in the Indian context have been at the frontline of community-based initiatives within the National Programme for Control of Blindness. While some states have managed to use the services of these personnel well, it has not been done uniformly across the country.

Some of the issues related to this are the lack of an accrediting body, absence of a clear-cut career ladder and professional rivalry within the fraternity. There is no clear-cut policy that governs the recruitment, maintenance and furthering of the status of these professionals within India. There is also a lack of distinction in understanding their role as to whether they are trained for a vocation or as academics or can fulfi ll both roles credibly.

The article from Nepal featured in the Indian supplement talks about the role and structure of a successful programme for mid level ophthalmic professionals. It also talks about their role, responsibility, proposed career structure and the need to update their skills. This article aims to provoke refl ection on the role of mid-level ophthalmic professionals in the Indian context.