Incentivizing innovation and technology for the care of the most frequent visual health problems in Mexico are the main objectives of the First Ophthalmological Innovation Award, which is focused on health professionals.
"The aim of this award is to address the three diseases related to vision loss in Mexico: cataract, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy," Jesús Jiménez, president of the Mexican Society of Ophthalmology, said at a press conference.
The specialist explained that these visual alterations lead to blindness, mainly due to an untimely diagnosis, and the lack of awareness about visiting a specialist periodically.
"Fortunately, in these alterations, the mere fact of correcting them can help improve visual capacity," he said.
Jocelle Fernandez, director of strategy and innovation at Grin Laboratories, pointed out that globally 2.2 billion people suffer from visual impairment; while in Mexico more than 2 million people have visual impairment.
"Mexico is one of the nations in the world with the greatest visual health problems," she insisted.
Alleviating diseases
In view of this panorama, Laboratorios Grin, in conjunction with the Mexican Health Foundation (Funsalud), presented the First Ophthalmological Innovation Award, in which resident doctors from all ophthalmology specialties and subspecialties from different institutions in the country can participate.
"We want to emphasize the main pathologies that affect the eyeball, as well as promote early awareness so that people can identify symptoms related to visual health in a timely manner and seek ophthalmologic care," said Santiago March, president of the judging committee.
Héctor Valle, president of Funsalud, pointed out the importance of working on the gaps in access to healthcare, especially with regard to the problem of seeking care.
"The next challenge is infrastructure, that there are beds, hospitals available, devices and medicines available to attend Mexican men and women," he said.
He insisted on the importance of preventive, personalized and participatory medicine to face the different health challenges.
The strength of a whole global society will be required to find general solutions, merge skills and capitals and to work for a well-structured and good organized, sustainable health system. More information: https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/m%C3%A9xico-salud_nuevo-premio-en-m%C3%A9xico-impulsar%C3%A1-la-innovaci%C3%B3n-y-tecnolog%C3%ADa-en-salud-visual/47853600