Vietnam, Roche Pharma launch program to reduce blindness risk from diabetes complications

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the program was signed on Saturday by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health’s Department of Medical Services Administration (DMSA), the Central Eye Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital, and Roche Pharma Vietnam Co., Ltd., part of Switzerland’s Roche Group.

The MoU is an important milestone, signaling the shared vision and commitment of all parties to tackle public health challenges through comprehensive and sustainable actions to improve the quality of life for people with diabetes across Vietnam.

According to the World Health Organization, up to one-third of people with diabetes worldwide suffer from some degree of diabetic retinopathy, making it one of the leading causes of permanent vision loss.

Retinal diseases are not only a medical issue but also a socio-economic burden, as they significantly reduce productivity and quality of life for millions of people.

In Vietnam, around seven million people aged 39 to 60 are living with diabetes. Among them, diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema remain the main causes of vision loss among working-age adults.

Notably, 39.5 percent of diabetes-related complications affect the eyes and nervous system, highlighting the urgent need for early detection and timely treatment.

Under the ‘Vietnam Eye Health’ program, the DMSA will serve as the coordinating and supervising body, with participating units required to report results every six months.

The initiative also aligns with the country’s ongoing strategy for blindness prevention and control through 2030, which is meant to increase the proportion of diabetes patients receiving eye examinations and follow-up care to over 75 percent.

Through the program, stakeholders will collaborate to build a sustainable model for the comprehensive management of diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.

The program will focus on raising public awareness, strengthening medical capacity, expanding access to screening and treatment services, and integrating innovative technologies into early detection.

Pham Ngoc Dong, director of the Central Eye Hospital and vice-president and general secretary of the Vietnam Ophthalmological Society, said the hospital is committed to dedicating its expertise and resources to successfully developing this comprehensive management model.

“We will work with the program to improve clinical guidelines and propose supportive policies to help people with diabetes detect and treat eye complications early, maintain their vision, and enhance their quality of life,” Dong said.

Sharing the same view, Le Anh Tuan, director of Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital, said the hospital will help develop a screening and early detection system for diabetic retinopathy among patients managed at grassroots-level medical facilities.

“This will ensure proper monitoring and timely treatment while reducing the burden on specialized hospitals,” he noted.

Nguyen Trong Khoa, deputy director of the DMSA, emphasized that the model will not only improve the quality of care but also mark a significant step forward in ophthalmology development at public hospitals, especially at the provincial level.

“The application of new technologies such as artificial intelligence in early detection is a strategic direction that we will actively promote,” he added.