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Karnataka State Network for Universal Eye Health

Context

VISION 2020: The Right to Sight-INDIA (VISION 2020 INDIA ) is guided by its five-year strategic plans (present plan exists for 2021-2026) and has an oversight by a 17 members Board comprising the government eye care institution, national not-for-profit eye care institutions and International NGOs that meets once a quarter and discusses programmatic aspects for improved eye care in line with its vision and mission and as outlined in the strategic plan.
The present strategic plan (April 2021-March 2026) guides VISION 2020 INDIA to bring together the eye health stakeholders at state level and create an effective platform for strengthening the eye care work in the state. Further, the Plan states that while the policy development largely takes place at national level through National Program for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), the policy implementation takes place at state level and below. The policy implementation requires good coordination, collaboration, policy engagement across the state with the government and non-government partners.
It is in this context, the idea of state level networks is born having a primary objective of ensuring the universal eye health with the key principle of integrated people centred eye care as envisioned in the World Report on Vision (WRV)

Formation of Karnataka State Network for Universal Eye Health

The 1st Karnataka State Universal Eye Health consultation was held on 18 March 2023 in Bengaluru. The consultation was jointly held by VISION 2020 INDIA and CBM India. The consultation brought the NGO & Private Sector Eye Care providers in the state together to discuss the areas of mutual cooperation, strategic engagement, institutional productivity, eye health leadership and governance issues in the state, policy engagement priorities and ways to delivering equity & quality in universal eye healthcare. The consultation was attended by VISION 2020 INDIA board members, Heads of NGO hospitals-VISION 2020 INDIA members, CBM India trust Team, Heads of NGO hospital – CBM India trust partners, Karnataka Government departments/RIO Bangalore/ JD Ophthalmology, Organisation for Person’s with Disability Heads, and Other Private players/ NGO’s who are contributing to eye care in the state. 52 people from 25 eye hospitals from across the State participated.

The 2nd consultation meeting was held on 18 December 2024 at CBM India office in Bengaluru. The objective was to ddeliberate and understand the state eye health challenges and recommendations to address them and form the Core Committee for Karnataka State Network for Universal Eye Health.
Discussions focused on the current challenges in eye health, findings from the Corneal Blindness Survey, and forming a core committee to drive universal eye health coverage in the state. Attendees included leaders from government, NGOs, and hospitals, reflecting the collective commitment to improving access to quality eye care services. This meeting marks another step toward building a collaborative roadmap to ensure no one is left behind in achieving universal eye health coverage.

How would the state eye health network function?

The Terms of Reference for state eye health network was developed. However, it needs a proper structure to operate the ToR in collaboration, coordination, and partnership with state level players including the government. The structure, called as a Core Committee would act a focal point for all the eye care development work representing the civil society in the state.

Core Committee of Karnataka Eye Health Network

An Expression of Interest was sent to all those who attended the consultation held on 18 March 2023 and 18 December 2024. Few institutions came forward to be on the core committee. It is to be noted that institution is the member of the core committee, and not the individual. The core committee meets periodically and discusses programmatic issues.
The core committee set up process is underway as on 31 December 2024. The committee will soon be finalised.
The core committee is selected initially for a period of 3 years and later may change as per the need.

Karnataka state network

The Karnataka State Network for Universal Eye Health is a collaborative platform established to strengthen partnerships in promoting eye health and vision care in the region. It serves as a common platform for eye health professionals, institutions, experts, government bodies, NGOs, and regional and global agencies and networks. We invite all eye health institutions and private practitioners in Karnataka to join the Karnataka State Network for Universal Eye Health. Membership is presently free and open to individuals and institutions who are passionate about promoting eye health and are committed to working collaboratively to achieve our shared vision.

Meetings of Core Committee