In a significant step towards addressing a pressing public health challenge, Laos has announced a collaboration with Nepal’s renowned Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology to replicate its innovative eye care model. The initiative, born out of a recent free eye camp held in Laos from 5 to 7 February, aims to tackle the country’s high prevalence of vision-related issues, including cataracts, which affect Laotians at a rate four times higher than in Nepal.
During the camp, Laos’ Health Minister, Dr Bounfeng Phoummalaysith, met with Dr Sanduk Ruit, a globally recognised ophthalmologist who led the Tilganga team. Dr Phoummalaysith expressed admiration for Tilganga’s ability to deliver high-impact outcomes with limited resources, proposing a partnership to adopt their approach in Laos. “They aim to address this crisis by adopting Tilganga’s model,” Dr Ruit noted, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Under the agreement, Laos will send doctors, health workers, and technicians to Nepal for training, while Tilganga will dispatch expert teams to provide on-the-ground guidance. The initiative has secured financial backing from Australia’s Fred Hollows Foundation and the US-based Cure Blindness project, ensuring resources for its implementation. 
A Lifeline for the Visually Impaired
The recent eye camp, jointly organised by Tilganga, Singapore’s A New Vision, Laos’ Phongsavanh Foundation, and Mahosot Hospital, with support from Nepal’s honorary consul general in Laos, Raju Shrestha, offered a glimpse of the potential impact of this collaboration. Over three days, Dr Ruit’s team, including Dr Bandana Khanal and other technical staff, performed cataract surgeries on 265 patients. Among them were 15 individuals who had lost vision in both eyes, now given a chance to see again.
One particularly moving case involved a 61-year-old chemistry teacher who had been blind for two years. After the surgery, he expressed overwhelming joy at regaining his sight and the ability to return to teaching. “The next day, he could see clearly and was incredibly happy,” said Namkha Lama, an ophthalmic officer at Tilganga. Such stories underscore the transformative power of accessible eye care, a service that remains out of reach for many in Laos due to resource constraints and geographical barriers.
Beyond Eye Care: A Broader Partnership
While the immediate focus of the collaboration is on eye health, Dr Ruit hinted at the potential for broader cooperation between Laos and Nepal. “Laos and Nepal share many similarities. Both are landlocked Asian nations with significant hydropower potential and a strong Buddhist heritage,” he said. He also noted the deep reverence Laotians hold for Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha in Nepal, as a cultural bridge between the two nations.
Economically, Laos’ experience in exporting hydropower to neighbouring countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia could offer valuable lessons for Nepal, which is similarly endowed with hydropower potential but faces challenges in scaling up exports. “This is an area where Nepal can gain valuable insights,” Dr Ruit added. If pursued, such exchanges could lay the groundwork for a multifaceted partnership, extending beyond health to cultural and economic ties.
Addressing a Public Health Crisis
Laos’ decision to partner with Tilganga comes at a critical juncture. With cataracts and other eye conditions affecting a significant portion of the population, the country’s healthcare system has struggled to keep pace. Rural communities, in particular, face limited access to specialised care, often leaving treatable conditions unaddressed until they result in permanent blindness.
Tilganga’s model, developed over decades in Nepal, offers a potential solution. By focusing on training local health workers and establishing sustainable systems for delivering care, the institute has dramatically reduced the incidence of preventable blindness in Nepal. If successfully adapted to the Laotian context, this approach could help thousands regain their sight and improve their quality of life.
However, challenges remain. Implementing a foreign healthcare model requires careful consideration of local conditions, including infrastructure, funding, and cultural attitudes towards medical treatment. While financial support from international partners like the Fred Hollows Foundation is a promising start, sustained commitment from the Laotian government will be essential to ensure long-term success. Analysts suggest that, if confirmed, the initiative could serve as a blueprint for addressing other public health issues in the region, though outcomes remain speculative at this stage.
A Shared Vision for the Future
The collaboration between Laos and Nepal reflects a growing trend of South-South cooperation, where developing nations share expertise and resources to address common challenges. For Laos, a country often overshadowed by its larger neighbours in South East Asia, this partnership offers an opportunity to build capacity in a critical area of public health. For Nepal, it is a chance to extend the reach of Tilganga’s groundbreaking work, cementing its reputation as a leader in affordable, high-quality eye care.
As the first cohort of Laotian health workers prepares to travel to Nepal for training, there is cautious optimism about the road ahead. “We will train their workforce to build capacity, after which they will implement the system,” Dr Ruit said. While it is too early to predict the full impact of this initiative, the stories of patients who regained their sight during the recent eye camp offer a powerful reminder of what is at stake.
For now, the focus remains on laying the foundation for a sustainable eye care system in Laos. If successful, this partnership could not only transform lives but also serve as a model for other nations grappling with similar health challenges. As Dr Phoummalaysith and Dr Ruit continue their dialogue, the vision of a future where preventable blindness is a thing of the past in Laos grows ever clearer.
