Managing demand generation with evidence

摘要

Generating and managing demand for eye care services must be based on evidence. We discuss what this evidence includes and how it can be effectively used to start eye care programmes to reach underserved populations. An estimated 1.3 billion people worldwide live with some form of distance or near vision impairment. Uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts are the leading causes of vision impairment. They are also avoidable.SUP 1 /SUP The WHO estimates that globally only about a quarter of people with eye problems use eye care services.SUP 2 /SUPStudies conducted in rural India and Nepal show the levels of uptake of eye services and cataract surgery range from seven per cent to 35 per cent. In another study in 52 countries only 18 per cent of people over 60 years got their eyes examined within the last one year; 38 per cent reported never having an eye exam.SUP 3 /SUPAppropriate demand generation strategies can address this unmet need in the community. With large eye care providers based in urban areas, there is a need to reach the rural population. Community outreach programmes are a viable strategy to generate demand in rural populations. These programmes have an indirect or snowball effect on the patients who come to a base hospital.SUP 4 /SUP Another strategy is setting up primary eye care centres in rural areas. Primary eye care centres can enable access and refer those who need further interventions to a base hospital.