The World Health Organization (WHO) launched 'Global Specs 2030' to ensure affordable eye care services for every person worldwide by 2030. The initiative targets prevalent vision problems, particularly among adolescents, and aims to reverse the negative effects of lack of eye care on education, economic opportunities, and quality of life.
Copyright infringement not intended
Picture Courtesy: INDIAN EXPRESS
The WHO has launched a global initiative — ‘Global Specs 2030’ — to ensure that everyone has access to affordable eyecare services by 2030.
GLOBAL SPECS 2030
The World Health Organization (WHO) launched 'Global Specs 2030' initiative to ensure that every person worldwide receives access to affordable eye care services by the year 2030.
The initiative focus on the two leading causes of vision loss: uncorrected refractive errors (like needing glasses) and cataracts. All member countries committed to achieve the following by 2030:
It calls for coordinated global action amongst all stakeholders across 5 strategic pillars, to address the challenges to improving refractive error coverage.
Engagement structure
What steps Indian government taken to promote eye care?
National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) => Conducts regular activities like School Eye Screening Programs to detect vision problems in children early on, and it organizes Cataract Surgery Camps to provide free or subsidized surgeries, especially in rural areas.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) => World's largest government-funded health insurance scheme. It offers health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalizations, which includes a wide range of eye treatments.
Role of ASHAs and ANMs => Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) are frontline health workers who play a vital role in connecting communities to eye care.
Prelims Booster => In 2024, Rajasthan became the first state in India to implement a "Right to Sight" policy, to control blindness and make eye care accessible to all. |
Must Read Articles:
Source: INDIAN EXPRESS
PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements about the 'Global Specs 2030' initiative: 1. It is launched by the World Health Organization (WHO). 2. It targets only adolescent eye health with a focus on myopia. Which of the above statements is/are correct? A) 1 only B) 2 only C) Both 1 and 2 D) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: A Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: The WHO has launched 'Global Specs 2030' to ensure that everyone has access to affordable eyecare services by 2030." Statement 2 is incorrect: The 'Global Specs 2030' initiative is broader, aiming for "affordable eyecare services for all by 2030," not exclusively adolescents or myopia. |
It is a WHO initiative aiming to make affordable eye care services available to everyone globally by the year 2030.
Myopia, or nearsightedness, is a growing concern, especially among adolescents, making it a key area for intervention.
India contributes through national programs like National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) and participation in global initiatives like 'Global Specs 2030'.
© 2025 iasgyan. All right reserved