Re-Designing Direct-Entry Ophthalmic Education: Bachelor of Ophthalmic Medicine & Surgery (BOMS)

10.36351/pjo.v42i4.2573

Abstract

The ophthalmic care vacuum and provision of ophthalmic services in the third world and especially in Pakistan has come to a crossroads. According to the International Council of Ophthalmology, there are 1,860 Ophthalmologists in Pakistan with work ratio of 11 ophthalmologists per million.¹Nadir et al, surveyed 420 Pakistani medical students and found that 33.3% planned to leave Pakistan after graduation.² Meo & Sultan also documented the migration of 31,418 doctors from Pakistan between 1971 and 2022.³These studies suggesta significant “brain drain” of medical graduates who emigrate shortly after earning their degrees.Besides, 70% of ophthalmologists reside in urban areas, while 70% of the population lives in rural areas.¹