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Governments, health leaders, and civil society from across the globe gathered today for the official World Health Assembly side event “Eye Health Has 2030 In Sight: New Data, New Resolution, New Momentum”, co-hosted by IAPB, Paraguay, Slovakia, Malaysia, and CBM.
Held at the Palais des Nations, the event spotlighted critical new data from the World Health Organization (WHO) on effective refractive error coverage (eREC) and celebrated the tabling of a new WHA resolution on the integration of sensory health — including vision and hearing — into health systems.
Dr. Alarcos Cieza of WHO opened the session, calling the moment both a celebration and a challenge. “We are marking progress, but also issuing a call to action,” she said, urging governments to advance equitable access to integrated eye and ear care services.
The event featured keynote remarks from His Excellency Dr. Jose Ortellado, Vice Minister of Health, Paraguay, and His Excellency Mr. Dusan Matulay, Permanent Representative of Slovakia, both commending the WHA resolution as a vital step toward inclusive, people-centred health systems. Palestine’s Health Minister highlighted the resilience of eye health services in conflict settings and shared a replicable model of primary eye care integration.
A major highlight was the release of new WHO data on global eyeglasses coverage, presented by WHO’s Dr. Stuart Keel. Drawing on over 230 surveys across 76 countries, the findings showed stark disparities in access, with eyeglasses coverage below 40% in many low-income settings. “Without accelerated action, universal access will not be achieved until the end of the century,” warned Dr. Keel, underscoring the urgency of investment and innovation.
The session also unveiled a suite of new WHO technical tools, including:
A dynamic panel discussion followed, with representatives from Malaysia, Slovenia, Paraguay, CBM, and ATscale sharing national strategies and cross-sectoral approaches. Speakers emphasized the need for civil society engagement, private sector partnerships, and integrated primary care models to accelerate progress.
Closing the event, IAPB CEO Peter Holland launched a new Global Policy Framework for Eye Health, urging countries to translate commitments into action. “We’re not asking for new mandates — we’re providing a roadmap to deliver on promises already made,” he said.
Malaysia’s Deputy Director General, Dr. Nor Fariza Ngah, offered closing remarks, reaffirming the country’s commitment to advancing the global eye health agenda and supporting the upcoming Global Summit on Eye Health in 2026, “Malaysia is prepared to step up. We are ready to be part of this journey, and we would be honoured to explore the possibility of hosting a meeting on the road to the Global Summit for Eye Health.”.
This event marked a critical step forward in aligning political will, technical evidence, and global collaboration to achieve universal eye care by 2030 — ensuring that no one is left behind.
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