Mauritius Moves to Strengthen Eye Care with New Screening Programmes and Advanced Treatment
Port Louis, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister of Mauritius Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam has held discussions with two Mauritian ophthalmologists based in the United Kingdom on measures to strengthen the screening and treatment of eye diseases in the country.
The Prime Minister met Professor Patrick Yu-Wai-Man and Dr Cynthia Yu-Wai-Man to explore initiatives aimed at improving early detection and treatment of glaucoma and diabetes-related eye diseases, which are among the major causes of visual impairment in Mauritius.
The proposed collaboration would bring together ophthalmology specialists from Cambridge and London with experts from the Singapore National Eye Centre. The possible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support the early detection of eye diseases was also discussed.
Prime Minister Ramgoolam thanked the two specialists for their commitment to improving eye care in Mauritius and directed that the proposed programmes be implemented without delay. He also expressed concern over administrative bottlenecks that had previously hindered progress on the initiative.
Professor Patrick Yu-Wai-Man, Chair of Ophthalmology at the University of Cambridge, described the meeting as “very productive” and commended the Prime Minister’s openness to proposals aimed at preventing blindness in Mauritius.
Dr Cynthia Yu-Wai-Man, Associate Professor and Consultant at King’s College London and an ophthalmic surgeon and glaucoma specialist at St Thomas’ Hospital, expressed her willingness to introduce the PreserFlo MicroShunt procedure in Mauritius.
The procedure, which is not currently available in the country, is designed to reduce pressure inside the eye and help prevent vision loss associated with glaucoma.
As part of their commitment to strengthening eye-care services, Professor Patrick Yu-Wai-Man and Dr Cynthia Yu-Wai-Man donated 10 PreserFlo implants, each valued at approximately £1,000, enabling Mauritian patients to benefit from the advanced treatment. They also offered to provide their specialist expertise to Mauritius on a voluntary basis.
“International expertise and equipment offered free of charge cannot remain blocked by bureaucracy. This is precisely why the system must change,” Prime Minister Ramgoolam said.
The proposed collaboration reflects the Mauritian Government’s broader commitment to modernising healthcare services, expanding access to specialised medical expertise and innovative technologies, and removing administrative barriers that could delay essential treatment.
The initiative places patients at the centre of the healthcare system while seeking to strengthen Mauritius’ capacity to prevent avoidable blindness and improve access to advanced ophthalmic care.
