Project Background and Significance

In recent years, China has actively promoted the establishment of the "Healthy Silk Road" to advance the high-quality development of the "Belt and Road" initiative. Through initiatives such as dispatching medical teams, talent training, disease prevention and control, and health assistance, China aims to deepen international cooperation, striving to achieve the vision of everyone enjoying good health and making significant contributions to global public health governance.

Eye health is a comprehensive endeavor involving society as a whole, encompassing individuals, families, students, schools, and workplaces. Conducting surveys in schools and implementing annual physical examinations in workplaces can help timely detect eye diseases. Waiting until one feels discomfort in the eyes or even loses vision before seeking medical attention may mean that some diseases have progressed to the middle or late stage, missing the optimal treatment period. Therefore, during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China will prioritize people's health and advocate for a comprehensive eye health management model throughout the life cycle, meeting the diverse needs of the people. According to reports from "The Lancet Global Health," a comprehensive life-cycle eye health management model is a common goal among countries.

Currently, in countries participating in the Belt and Road initiative, various nations have basic experiences in preventing and treating common eye diseases. However, difficult eye diseases still face two major challenges: difficult diagnosis and difficult treatment, seriously affecting the quality of life of patients throughout their lives. The main reasons for this are as follows: (1) The distribution of medical resources in various countries is extremely uneven, and the immature hierarchical diagnosis and treatment and referral system lead to low accessibility to medical care. (2) Along the Belt and Road countries, the economic development level is relatively low, and local people lack awareness of prevention and treatment. Coupled with the high cost of screening and treatment, it is difficult to seek medical treatment and cure. (3) There are cultural and language barriers in exchanges between countries, making it difficult to achieve experience sharing and lacking mature, replicable, and promotable models for the prevention and treatment of difficult eye diseases.

This project plans to respond to the national call, uphold the spirit of win-win cooperation in the Belt and Road initiative, deepen exchanges on the issue of difficult eye diseases, promote the sharing of knowledge, technology, and resources, establish a closer international cooperation mechanism, and achieve the important goal of driving the development of medical and health undertakings in countries and regions along the Belt and Road, tackling difficult eye diseases, and promoting human health.

Project Objectives

Short-term Objectives (Within 3 Months):

Establish the "Belt and Road Comprehensive Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Plan" course, integrating theory with practice, and providing multidimensional training for participants.

Medium-term Objectives (Within 1 Year):

Conduct domestic and international practice plans in Shanghai and Malaysia, respectively, and complete the writing of three plans, namely:

1. Comprehensive Eye Health Management Plan throughout the Life Cycle

2. Innovative Technology Empowerment and Optimization Plan for Ophthalmology Graded Diagnosis and Treatment System

3. Exchange Plan for the Prevention and Treatment of Difficult Eye Diseases along the Belt and Road

Long-term Objectives (1 Year and Beyond):

Establish a normalized talent pool and expand the practice plans to other diseases and countries. Understand and summarize the current supply and demand situation of difficult eye disease prevention and treatment in Belt and Road countries, and contribute to the construction of the Belt and Road Eye Health Alliance.