Sightsavers Reports

Diabetic retinopathy/diabetes mellitus service delivery and integration into the health system in Pakistan: a qualitative study

Status: Recently completed

Main Objectives

This report is based on qualitative research carried out in 2019 in a diabetes mellitus (DM)/diabetic retinopathy (DR) prevention programme in three districts of Pakistan. The report presents an analysis of the organisation and delivery of services and the extent to which the programme interventions were seen to result in a more integrated health systems approach to sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy care.

Summary

The study sought to build understanding of the pathways for referral and treatment of DM/DR and the organisation of service delivery at three large tertiary hospitals in Pakistan. It also explored the factors enabling or hindering adherence to referrals and treatment follow-up in these settings. The study has a number of programme implications regarding training and support systems for lady health workers (LHW), the nature and role of counselling; and the approaches needed to enhance women’s access to DM/DR services.

The results of this study also call for finding the models of care, which are responsive to the needs of diabetes patients, i.e. delivered through smaller and less overburdened facilities, closer to patients’ home and with more convenient opening times. Mobile services and innovative technologies should be considered as part of these alternative models of care. Monitoring systems should be adapted to ensure inclusion of DM, DR and other vision care issues.

Main Contact

Stevens Bechange
Senior Research Advisor
Sightsavers
[email protected]

Partners

Sightsavers
Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan
Al-Ibrahim Eye Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Funder

Seeing is Believing logo

Duration

12 months

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