WV eye docs adopt better strategy, unified approach on blindness prevention
A more efficient procedure is now in place for Ilonggo patients seeking eye treatment following the controversies generated by Cataract-scheme cum Cataract-scam.
With the government's Philippine Health Insurance Corporation implementing a major make-over on the system, eye specialists in Western Visayas banded in support of the changes.
As such, the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmologists (PAO) WV chapter led by highly-respected Ophthalmologist, Dr. Karen Rivera-Francia announced better strategies and unified approaches.
"Quality service and cost-efficient," PAO's Dr. Cynthia Salcedo said of the new system while acknowledging the recent blows hurled against colleagues.
"We have really been doing our part for years now," Dr. Jeremy Saquian for his part said adding that Cataract cases top eye treatments sought in Iloilo.
Officers and members of the PAO-WV chapter met with the local press yesterday for the launching of the region's Vision 2020 project.
A World Health Organization (WHO) initiative alongside the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB), Vision 2020 is aimed at eliminating avoidable blindness by the year 2020.
Cataract cases were given special attention with a new flowchart created for patients requiring the surgery.
The new strategy will do away with cataract seekers or agents then discovered by PhilHealth to be sent out for the ‘seeking-spree' by a number of Ilonggo eye doctors. The seekers cum agents were reportedly earning P600 per eye that is recorded for surgery in "medical missions" that had PhilHealth pay hundreds of millions in Cataract reimbursements in Western Visayas alone.
Fast forward to today's practice, the PAO-WV informs the public that primary health care starts with the barangay health workers who will identify the patient.
A referral will then be made to the town's health officer where coordination will be done.
"We want to rid the community with the "mission mentality," Dr. Salcedo quipped.
Current Vision 2020 priorities include elimination of cataract blindness,screening and management of visual loss in children, provision of services for and correction of refractive errors.
The local Ophthalmologist-partners are likewise involved in advocacy campaign with link-ups made to other physicians.