The notice has been issued against illegal release of money for deployment of untrained, unqualified manpower in various Vision centres established under NPCB program on Control of Blindness
Delhi High Court has issued a notice against the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on petition of Indian Optometry Federation. The notice has been issued to MOHFW against illegal release of money for deployment of untrained, unqualified manpower in various Vision centres established under NPCB program on Control of Blindness.
The petition filed by Indian Optometry Federation alleges that government is releasing funds to the NGOs, private companies deploying untrained manpower under various misleading names of vision technicians employed in vision centres, refractionists, eye mitraetc who are school drop outs, unqualified and untrained manpower and undertaking the work of eye care, prescribing lenses, prescribing medicines etc unauthorised.
Ajeet Bhardwaj, President, Indian Optometry Federation said, “As government is allowing employment of untrained and unqualified manpower by NGOS, hospitals and lens manufacturing companies, it is causing more harm to the unsuspecting people who believe that the person advising them is trained medical professional and believing their advice.”
“In our petition we have pleaded the high court to put stay on the grants to NGOs, hospitals and private companies for various vision centres being established by them and huge money being spent without any benefit to the masses,” informed Bhardwaj.
Bhardwaj said, “Optometrist in developed countries provides 70 to 90 per cent of total primary eye care independently. We have 143 UGC recognised institutions and approximately 40000 plus optometrists in India but as per WHO, India requires about two lakhs optometrists.”
RS Berwal, Secretary, IOF, said, “Blindness in India can only be reduced or controlled if optometry is given its role of primary health care where they can diagnoses and treat patients for common eye ailments and refer patients who needs specialised care and surgical intervention. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW) had promised the same to Optometrists and that reflected in the original duties and responsibilities of optometrists in 1978. MOHFW unlawfully changed our duties, so that optometrists may remain subordinate and assistants in healthcare system.”
Bhardwaj said, “Without any rights and an independent optometry Council, all these issues cannot be addressed.’’
