OPTOMETRISTS IN INDIA, EMBARK ON HUNGER STRIKE

The India Optometric Federation(IOF) has embarked on a hunger strike to press their demands to the Central Health Ministry to give Optometrists more roles in the primary health sector instead making Optometrists look like technicians or health assistants.

In a communique after their meeting on March 23rd, 2015 addressed to Dr.N.K. Agarwal, the Deputy Director General, Directorate of General Health Services, NPCB-Ministry of Health; the Optometrists highlighted point 2 in the Duty charter for Optometrists, thus;

1. Treatment of the Patients for Eye Ailments-Treat patients independently and co manage all eye ailments with the use of all diagnostic therapeutic drugs excluding intra ocular surgeries.
2. Formulation of Optometry Council under parliamentary act.
3. Excluding Optometry from Allied Health/Paramedical services.

The Optometrists insisted that the hunger strike would continue unless their demands are met.
The Indian Optometry Federation(IOF), established in 2010 and registered in 2011, was formed in response to the need for a centralised peak body to represent all associations of Optometry across India. The bodies under the IOF includes, Indian Optometric Association, National Ophthalmic Association, Optometry Society, Optometry Council of India, Diploma Optometrists Welfare Association amongst others.

Key Indian Optometrists after the Hunger Strike Declaration
Bindu Shajan Perappadan of THE HINDU, in a report, had revealed that:

"The indefinite hunger strike by members of the Indian Optometry Federation (IOF) being held at Jantar Mantar entered its second day on Tuesday. The group is protesting against what they claim to be “unlawful change of duties of optometrists by the Central Health Ministry.” The group has also written to the Prime Minister demanding immediate relief.
R.S. Berwal, secretary, IOF, said: “Blindness in India can only be controlled if optometry is considered part of the primary health care. We should be allowed to diagnose and treat patients for common eye ailments and refer patients who need specialised care and surgical intervention.’’
He added that the Ministry has “unlawfully changed our duties, so that optometrist may remain subordinate and assistants in health care system.’’
Optometrist Ajeet Bhardwaj, IOF president, said the Ministry has no records available to show “why and by whom the duties were changed and as a result this profession is not taken up by many students.’’
Optometrists are healthcare professionals who provide primary vision care ranging from sight testing and correction to diagnosis, treatment, and management of vision changes. An optometrist is not a medical doctor."