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Written Question
Developing Countries: Health Services
Monday 23rd November 2015

Asked by: Nick Hurd (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the cost effectiveness of (a) cataract surgery, (b) correction of refractive error, (c) interventions against trachoma and (d) other public health interventions.

Answered by Grant Shapps - Secretary of State for Defence

DFID uses evidence on the cost-effectiveness of health interventions to inform DFID investment decisions. This includes the World Health Organisation CHOICE (CHOosing Interventions that are Cost-Effective) project that provides detailed cost-effectiveness estimates of a large number of interventions to reduce risks to health, including many causes of blindness. DFID’s aim is to maximise health gains through targeted, cost-effective health interventions that are delivered through strengthened, more efficient and effective health systems.


Every DFID project is rigorously appraised before approval. During implementation each project is regularly monitored to examine whether the targeted results are on track, whether the project represents value for money and remains cost effective, and what, if any, corrective action needs to be undertaken. DFID considers alternative approaches and cost-effectiveness, amongst other factors, whenever we make an investment. The best value for money in a given country at a given time will depend on many factors, including the local context and what others are doing.


Written Question
Visual Impairment
Monday 23rd November 2015

Asked by: Nick Hurd (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assumptions her Department has made on (a) global levels of avoidable blindness and low vision and (b) projected levels of those problems in 2020 in planning its work.

Answered by Grant Shapps - Secretary of State for Defence

The latest available evidence on the burden of disease is used in planning our work. Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that 285 million people are estimated to be visually impaired worldwide: 39 million are blind and 246 million have low vision. Data on levels and trends of the burden of diseases and injuries and the risk factors that cause them are an important input to health decision-making for national governments and development partners.When making investment decisions DFID considers many factors, including the burden of disease, to ensure that we deliver value for money and that we address the health needs of the countries we support.



Written Question
Visual Impairment
Monday 23rd November 2015

Asked by: Nick Hurd (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the cost effectiveness of her Department's programmes to help reduce the incidence of avoidable blindness and low vision.

Answered by Grant Shapps - Secretary of State for Defence

DFID uses evidence on the cost-effectiveness of health interventions to inform DFID investment decisions. This includes the World Health Organisation CHOICE (CHOosing Interventions that are Cost-Effective) project that provides detailed cost-effectiveness estimates of a large number of interventions to reduce risks to health, including many causes of blindness. DFID’s aim is to maximise health gains through targeted, cost-effective health interventions that are delivered through strengthened, more efficient and effective health systems.


Every DFID project is rigorously appraised before approval. During implementation each project is regularly monitored to examine whether the targeted results are on track, whether the project represents value for money and remains cost effective, and what, if any, corrective action needs to be undertaken. DFID considers alternative approaches and cost-effectiveness, amongst other factors, whenever we make an investment. The best value for money in a given country at a given time will depend on many factors, including the local context and what others are doing.


Written Question
Visual Impairment
Monday 23rd November 2015

Asked by: Nick Hurd (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to help reduce the incidence of avoidable blindness and low vision since 2010.

Answered by Grant Shapps - Secretary of State for Defence

DFID has a number of programmes that directly and indirectly support the prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness. Since 2010 DFID has supported: the control of river blindness; programmes that contribute to the elimination of blinding trachoma; the work of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust to tackle trachoma, diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity across the Commonwealth; a Programme Partnership Arrangement with Sightsavers and several UK Aid Match schemes that provide a range of sight-restoring and sight-saving operations; and funding provided to UNICEF, the GAVI Alliance and the Measles and Rubella Initiative (MRI) that has helped provide, amongst other things, food fortification, Vitamin A supplementation and measles immunisation, which reduce the risk of blindness.


Prevention and treatment of avoidable blindness requires a strong health system. Through its health systems strengthening, DFID is helping to ensure that eye treatment is available for all. The UK is providing significant support to developing and maintaining robust health systems to enable developing countries to address their health priorities.



Written Question
Visual Impairment
Monday 23rd November 2015

Asked by: Nick Hurd (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what information her Department holds on the global cost of lost economic activity due to blindness and low vision.

Answered by Grant Shapps - Secretary of State for Defence

There are a limited number of studies that estimate the lost productivity from all avoidable blindness. However, there have been some studies to assess the impact of specific causes of visual impairment and blindness. For example, it has been estimated that trachoma alone causes US$3-6 billion in lost productivity per year across affected countries. DFID is supporting the prevention and treatment of trachoma in a number of highly endemic countries.



Written Question
Developing Countries: Health Services
Monday 23rd November 2015

Asked by: Nick Hurd (Conservative - Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department is providing to countries which have not yet developed a national eye care plan.

Answered by Grant Shapps - Secretary of State for Defence

In 2013, the World Health Assembly approved the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Avoidable Blindness and Visual Impairment 2014-2019 - Towards Universal Eye Health. This is a roadmap for WHO Member States and international partners with the aim of achieving a measurable reduction of 25% of avoidable visual impairments by 2019. One of the three key objectives of the plan is the development and implementation of integrated national eye health policies, plans and programmes to enhance universal eye health. The UK has signed up to the plan and existing UK programmes on avoidable blindness are contributing to achieving its objectives.