Published: 12:38 AM, 08 July 2026
BD set to strengthen eye health commitment in 2026 Global Summit
Bangladesh is set to make a strong national commitment to expanding access to quality eye care as the country prepares for the 2026 Global Summit for Eye Health, with stakeholders calling for increased investment, stronger political commitment, and equitable eye care services to eliminate avoidable vision loss.
The issue was discussed at a consultative meeting on finanlising the Draft Bangladesh Commitment for the summit, at the National Institute of Ophthalmology & Hospital (NIO&H) in Dhaka on Tuesday. Government representatives, ophthalmologists, development partners and eye health organisations took part in the discussion.
The consultation was attended by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) Chief Executive Peter Holland, IAPB's Southeast Asia Region Head Yuddha Dhoj Sapkota, National Institute of Ophthalmology & Hospital acting Director Prof Dr ASMM Quadir, Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh (OSB) President Dr Md Tauhidur Rahman and Secretary General Prof Md Zinnu Rain, representatives from WHO, INGO Forum in Eye Health, government agencies, professional bodies, and eye hospital partners. On behalf of INGO Forum, Orbis International Bangladesh Country Director Dr Munir Ahmed facilitated the meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, Peter Holland described investment in eye care as one of the smartest public investments a country can make.
"Eye care is one of the world's best buys," he said, noting that an investment of US$129 million in eye care between 2026 and 2030 in a country like Bangladesh could generate an estimated US$2.3 billion in annual economic gains in subsequent years.
Holland also highlighted the global burden of poor eye health, saying that nearly one billion people in low- and middle-income countries are living with avoidable sight loss. Improving eye health, he said, is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as good vision contributes to better education, employment, productivity and overall well-being.
Holland was on a two-day visit to Bangladesh to invite the country to become a co-host of the 2026 Global Summit for Eye Health, which will take place on November 2, 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda.
He informed the meeting that during a meeting on Monday with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the head of government agreed that Bangladesh would serve as a co-host of the summit alongside Antigua and Barbuda and he would also participate in the global event.
Yuddha Dhoj Sapkota said the summit would provide a global platform for countries to announce ambitious national commitments to improve eye health. Governments, he said, would pledge concrete actions, dedicate resources and set measurable targets to reduce avoidable blindness and visual impairment while strengthening national eye care systems.
Presenting Bangladesh's proposed draft commitments prepared collaboratively with INGO and all stakeholders in eye health, Dr Munir Ahmed emphasized the importance of building a people-centred eye care system that ensures equitable access to priority services for refractive errors, presbyopia, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and childhood eye diseases.
He proposed that Bangladesh commit to extending essential eye care services to 20 million people by 2030, reflecting the country's determination to significantly expand coverage and improve access to quality eye care nationwide.
Representatives from World Health Organisation, UNDP, the Fred Hollows Foundation, Helen Keller International, Sightsavers, CBM Global, Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital, Dr K Zaman BNSB Eye Hospital, Prof Matin BNSB Eye Hospital, Dip Eye Care, and Essilor Bangladesh also joined the event.
Speakers noted that eye health remains a major public health concern in Bangladesh. An estimated 637,500 to 855,000 people in the country are living with avoidable vision loss, while nearly six million people suffer from broader forms of visual impairment.
They stressed that most vision loss can be prevented or treated through timely diagnosis, affordable treatment, corrective spectacles, cataract surgery and stronger primary eye care services. They also emphasised that integrating eye care into universal health coverage is essential for improving health outcomes and supporting the country's social and economic development.
The consultation concluded with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to working together to finalise Bangladesh's national commitment ahead of the 2026 Global Summit for Eye Health, with the shared goal of ensuring that quality eye care becomes accessible to all.
