Advancing cataract surgery must be treated as a national priority, not just a medical goal, according to Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation Samuel Nartey George. Delivering an address at the Annual General Scientific Meeting of the Ophthalmological Society, he said restoring sight restores “hope, dignity, and livelihoods” and called for a technology-driven shift in the country’s approach to eye care.
Speaking on the theme “Advancing Cataract Surgery: Innovations and Best Practices,” George acknowledged progress in expanding access to ophthalmic care but noted that the cataract surgery rate remains below national demand. He described cataract as the leading cause of avoidable blindness globally and the primary source of visual impairment domestically.
He noted that because the condition is reversible, the focus must shift from incremental progress to scaling up surgery through innovation, capacity building, and policy reform. “Sight is a fundamental right, not a privilege,” he said, highlighting the broader societal impact of eye care.
Outlining the Ministry’s digital health priorities, George said tele-ophthalmology would bridge the gap between urban specialists and rural patients. The government, he explained, plans to leverage the rollout of 5G and community information centres with high-speed connectivity to deliver these services nationwide. Artificial intelligence would be deployed to improve early detection of diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, while digital platforms would support continuous training and collaboration among eye care professionals.
Beyond technology, the Minister pledged government backing for key legal and institutional reforms. He commended the Ophthalmological Society for championing the long-delayed tissue and organ transplantation legislation, promising to advocate for its passage in Parliament. He also announced plans to lobby for funding to establish an ultramodern national eye bank, an initiative expected to make the country a centre for medical innovation and transplant services in West Africa.
George closed with a call to action, urging ophthalmologists, health partners, and policymakers to scale up cataract care and embrace digital innovation. Restoring vision, he said, “returns farmers to their fields, traders to their stalls, and grandparents to their families.”
