Shortage Of Eye Specialists To Hit The Country

The Ophthalmological Society of Ghana (OSG) has said there is a looming decline of eye specialists in the country.

OSG is made up of eye specialists in Paediatric Ophthalmology, Community eye health and Cornea and Anterior segments.

Dr Michael Ekouba Gyasi, the National President of the OSG, said more than half of the 90 ophthalmologists in the country were billed for retirement in the next 10 years.

Describing the situation as a national challenge, Dr Gyasi said currently there were 20 eye specialists residents in training but the number has to double if the country can achieve a sustainable growth.

He was addressing the opening session of the 28th Annual and Scientific Meeting of the OSG currently underway in Sunyani.

The two-day meeting is being held under the theme: “Universal Eye Health: A Global Action Plan”.

Dr Gyasi said there is the need to train more eye care professionals and also ensure that trainees get adequate hands-on skills training.

“If nothing at all, their cataract surgical skills, including phacoemulsification, must be spot on,” he said.

Dr Boateng Wiafe, a renowned eye specialist, said research show that 56 per cent of all visually-impaired cases in the country were due to cataract.

He said there is the need for government to improve access to comprehensive eye care services and integrate the services into general health systems.

Dr Wiafe said high cost of service remains a key challenge to access to eye care and called for the inclusion of eye care services into the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Source: GNA