Bangladesh to Co-Host 2026 Global Eye Health Summit

Bangladesh is set to take a leading role in the global fight against preventable blindness by co-hosting the 2026 Global Summit for Eye Health, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman expected to join world leaders at the international gathering.

The announcement came as government officials, ophthalmologists, development partners and eye health organisations met at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIO&H) on Tuesday to finalise Bangladesh's draft national commitment for the summit, which seeks to accelerate global action to eliminate avoidable blindness and visual impairment.

The consultation was attended by International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) Chief Executive Peter Holland, IAPB Southeast Asia Regional Head Yuddha Dhoj Sapkota, Acting Director of NIO&H Prof Dr ASMM Quadir, Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh President Dr Md Tauhidur Rahman, Secretary General Prof Md Zinnu Rain, representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), the INGO Forum in Eye Health, government agencies, professional associations and leading eye care institutions. The discussion was facilitated by Orbis International Bangladesh Country Director Dr Munir Ahmed on behalf of the INGO Forum.

Addressing the meeting, Peter Holland described investment in eye health as one of the most cost-effective public health investments available.

"Eye care is one of the world's best buys," he said, adding that an estimated investment of US$129 million in Bangladesh's eye care sector between 2026 and 2030 could generate around US$2.3 billion in annual economic benefits through higher productivity, improved educational outcomes and increased workforce participation.

Highlighting the global burden of visual impairment, Holland said nearly one billion people in low- and middle-income countries continue to live with avoidable sight loss. Expanding access to quality eye care, he noted, is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by improving health, education, employment opportunities and overall economic growth.

Holland, who is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh, formally invited the government to co-host the 2026 Global Summit for Eye Health, scheduled to be held on November 2, 2026, in Antigua and Barbuda.

He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman accepted the invitation during a meeting on Monday, agreeing that Bangladesh would co-host the summit alongside Antigua and Barbuda and personally participate in the global event.

IAPB Southeast Asia Regional Head Yuddha Dhoj Sapkota said the summit would provide countries with a platform to announce ambitious national commitments supported by dedicated financing, measurable targets and practical actions to strengthen eye care systems and reduce avoidable blindness.

Presenting Bangladesh's draft national commitment, Dr Munir Ahmed outlined a roadmap to build a people-centred eye care system that ensures equitable access to services for refractive errors, presbyopia, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and childhood eye diseases.

Under the proposed commitment, Bangladesh aims to extend essential eye care services to 20 million people by 2030, significantly expanding nationwide access to affordable, quality treatment.

Representatives from WHO, UNDP, The Fred Hollows Foundation, Helen Keller International, Sightsavers, CBM Global, Ispahani Islamia Eye Institute and Hospital, Dr K Zaman BNSB Eye Hospital, Prof Matin BNSB Eye Hospital, Dip Eye Care and Essilor Bangladesh also participated in the consultation.

Speakers noted that eye health remains a major public health challenge in Bangladesh. An estimated 637,500 to 855,000 people live with avoidable vision loss, while nearly six million people suffer from broader forms of visual impairment.

They said most cases could be prevented or effectively treated through timely diagnosis, affordable spectacles, cataract surgery, diabetic eye care and stronger primary eye care services.

Participants stressed that integrating eye care into Bangladesh's universal health coverage programme would improve public health while delivering substantial economic and social benefits.

The meeting concluded with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to finalising Bangladesh's national pledge ahead of the 2026 Global Summit for Eye Health, reinforcing the country's ambition to ensure accessible, affordable and quality eye care for all while contributing to global efforts to end avoidable blindness.