ESTABLISHING A MULTI-SECTORAL FRAMEWORK FOR CHILDREN VISION: THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) OF THE VISION FOR EDUCATION (V4E) PROGRAM IN MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37268/mjphm/vol.26/no.2/art.4065Keywords:
children, vision, refractive error, B40, eye care, standard operation procedureAbstract
Uncorrected refractive error (URE) remains a leading cause of preventable visual impairment globally. Early intervention is critical during childhood to support visual and educational development. In alignment with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) initiative to scale up refractive error management, the Vision for Education (V4E) program was established in Malaysia to facilitate access to refractive care among economically vulnerable children, supporting the broader principles of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This descriptive programme implementation report documents the development, validation, pilot testing, and implementation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the V4E programme. A multi-phase approach comprising stakeholder consultation, expert validation, pilot testing, and national programme was undertaken. The six-month pilot phase was conducted from April to September 2021 across 10 selected hospitals, followed by national programme from October 2021 to January 2023. The V4E programme utilised a multi-sectoral collaborative framework involving non-profit organisations (NGOs) and public, university, and private health sectors. A formal SOP was developed through stakeholder consultations, expert input, and pilot testing to assess the operational feasibility of the programme’s administrative and clinical workflows. During national programme, the SOP facilitated the integration of 56 multidisciplinary teams comprising public and university hospitals and private optometric practices across Malaysia. A total of 982 eligible children underwent comprehensive eye examinations and received free refractive corrections through the programme. The findings describe the implementation and operational feasibility of a standardised, multi-sectoral workflow for delivering refractive care to economically vulnerable children. These findings should not be interpreted as evidence of programme effectiveness, sustainability, scalability, or population-level impact. Further independent and longitudinal evaluation is required to assess these outcomes.
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