NIOH collaborates with Roche Bangladesh to host a roundtable discussion on tackling Diabetic Retinopathy

Syed MIZAN::

[Dhaka, September 30, 2025] On the occasion of World Retina Day 2025, the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital (NIOH), in collaboration with Roche Bangladesh, hosted a multi-stakeholder roundtable discussion on the topic ‘Bridging Policy Task Shifting and Innovation: Tackling Diabetic Retinopathy’ on September 28, 2025, at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka. The event brought together several policymakers, healthcare professionals, INGOs, and private sector representatives to have a discussion on how Bangladesh can better tackle Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of vision loss in the country.
Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is linked closely with the rising prevalence of diabetes, and it’s one of the leading causes of preventable blindness in Bangladesh. Despite being a growing public health issue, early detection and treatment remain limited due to gaps in awareness, screening programs, health system readiness, and coordination across stakeholders. On that account, the roundtable discussion centered on identifying gaps in screening, diagnosis, and treatment as well as finding opportunities for public-private partnerships to make sure of a more coordinated national response.
The event was attended by senior government and policy makers, including members of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), representatives from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Health Services Division.
Clinical experts such as the Director of NIOH, senior ophthalmologists, retinal specialists, and representatives from the Ophthalmological Society of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Vitreo Retina Society, BIRDEM, and BADAS also participated.
“For the success of an effective screening program initiative for diabetic retinopathy, engagement from multiple sectors in the form of a working committee is essential”, Director of NIOH, Dr. Md. Zan-E-Alam Mridha, said at the event.
Private sector, international NGOs and development partners, including Orbis International, Helen Keller Intl, The Fred Hollows Foundation, Sightsavers Bangladesh, Good People International, along with Roche Bangladesh’s own commercial, market access and policy teams, took part in the discussion.