June 19, 2016 – (WCO): South African optometrists mark a milestone in their quest for better eye care for all following an announcement made by the World Council of Optometry (WCO) last Sunday. On the 3rd of June, 2016, the National Minister of Health has signed off the first list of scheduled substances for ocular therapeutics for optometrists in South Africa. The legislation passed a while ago to expand the scope of practice of optometrists to include therapeutics is now met with the actual scheduled substances legislation.
WCO currently leads the first cohort of 218 optometrists in training and they will, on completion, be put onto a new register that has been created by the regulatory authority for optometrists with Ocular Therapeutics Qualification. WCO stresses that although this is a small technical win at this stage, it is worth celebrating this giant step for the development of optometry in South Africa.
In a status update on their Facebook page, WCO notes: “As a profession we will continue to move forward with our efforts to enhance Optometry’s contribution to the provision of better eye care services for all! Although we are acutely aware that the road ahead is still long, we use this opportunity to thank our colleagues locally and from around the world who have supported optometrists in SA over the many years that we have worked on the scope expansion.”
More from the World Council of Optometry.
This really answered my issue, thank you!