Delhi High Court has sought the government's response on a plea of the Indian Optometry Federation (IOF) against release of funds under the National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB), alleging that untrained, unqualified manpower was being deployed in various vision centres established under the programme.
Justice Rajiv Shakdher issued notice to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare asking them to file their counter within four weeks on the plea which alleged that the government was releasing "funds to NGOs, private companies and are deploying untrained manpower under various misleading names of vision technicians, refractionists etc who are school dropouts".
"Issue notice to the respondent (Ministry)... Counter affidavit, if any, be filed within four weeks. Rejoinder thereto, if any, be filed before the next date of hearing. List on November 23, 2015," the court said.
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IOF in their petition has pleaded with the High Court to stay the grants under NPCB to NGOs, hospitals and private companies for various vision centres established by them and the huge money being spent without any benefit to the masses.
Optometrists are trained healthcare professionals who evaluate eye health, clarity of vision and importantly, can detect several disorders of eyes like cataract and glaucoma and identify systemic diseases like diabetes.
In his plea, IOF President Ajeet Bhardwaj claimed, "as government is allowing employment of untrained and unqualified manpower by NGOS, hospitals and lens manufacturing companies, it is causing more harm to the unsuspecting people who believe that the person advising them is trained medical professional and believing their advice."
As per estimates the total blind population in the country, which is 4.7 per cent, accounted for diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Optometrists can help in early detection of diabetic retinopathy and in co -management of same, IOF said.
