Although cataract surgery is reimbursable through China’s rural insurance program, reimbursement rates fall sharply when treatment is sought at distant hospitals – often the only places where care is available. Because of this, cataract victims often cannot afford the high price of surgery at urban hospitals and are forced to leave behind their dreams of sight. This is why REAP is stepping in to address the issue – we are building capacity, boosting demand, making local treatment sustainable, and measuring the impact of cataract surgery in rural counties.
REAP has partnered with Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, one of the best eye hospitals in the country, to train hand-selected county-level eye doctors to become cataract surgeons. After completing training, the doctors and other trained health-professionals visit villages and Township Health Clinics to screen for cataracts, thus creating awareness and driving demand. Those identified to have cataracts can now seek quality care from their local hospital. Our goal is to build a scaleable model that overcomes barriers to care and ensures that all people who can benefit from cataract surgery can safely and affordably receive treatment.
