Role of Optical Shops and Pharmacies In Financial Sustainability of OE Partner Hospitals Dr. Santosh Moses Assistant Director – Eye Health

 High magnitude of uncorrected refractive errors  Spectacles - the simplest solution  Low conversion/ compliance rate  High medication/ prescription drop out rate  Investment by OE to establish optical shops and pharmacies Background of the study 2 9 partner hospitals

Objectives of the study Overall objective To understand the contributions being made by optical shops and pharmacies towards financial sustainability of OE hospital partners, and assess their impact on delivery of services

Methods  Information from 9 partner hospitals: Revenues generated Key performance indicators  Key informant interviews: Representative of hospital management Patients  Focus group discussions with hospital staff  Simple statistical analysis

Results Income from optical shop and pharmacy store - 28% (more than 1/4 th )

Summary of findings  25% of total out patients required spectacles  Average conversion rate was 78%  Prescription adherence rate was 82%  27% of total income was from opticals and pharmacies  235% and 120% - individual optical and pharmacy cost recoveries  The average cost recovery on patient care income without optical & pharmacy income reduced to 68% from 92%  Total investment by OE – INR 1.3 million  Revenues from optical shops and pharmacies in 2011 alone in 9 partner hospitals – INR 50 million  High patient satisfaction – 94% of respondents were satisfied with the services provided in the hospital

Conclusion Financial viability together with enhanced patient satisfaction makes optical and pharmacy services an apt strategy for sustainable delivery of quality eye care services.

Thank you Please visit poster board # 76 at the exhibition stall for more details