World Council of Optometry

24 June 2009

The World Council of Optometry (WCO) held its biannual General Delegates Meeting (GDM) in Melaka, Malaysia on 5th and 6th June 2009. The programme, hosted by the Association of Malaysian Optometrists (AMO) and managed by the College of Optometrists (UK) which provides the secretariat for the WCO, brought together 40 international delegates and over 200 Malaysian Optometrists for a series of meetings, a Joint Optometric Conference and Gala Dinner.

Gathering every two years, the GDM and related meetings aim to discuss eye care issues, establish policies and determine global protocols. This year the conference programme focused on public health issues for optometrists, challenges facing optometric education and global scope of practice.

One of the highlights of the World Council of Optometry (WCO) event was a meeting with the Malaysian Minister of Health. The WCO Executive Committee, including its President Robert Chappell, met with the Minister to discuss the status of optometry in Malaysia. The meeting was organised by AMO to:

• Enhance optometric practice in Malaysia, focusing on patient’s needs.
• Brief the Health Minister on the development of optometry worldwide. 
• Offer WCO support to the continuing development of eye care in Malaysia

Commenting after the meeting, Robert Chappell, WCO President said: “WCO is committed to working together with the Association of Malaysian Optometrists to meet the visual needs of the Malaysian people. The meeting with the Health Minister of Malaysia provided an insight into how we can work together to achieve the WCO’s mission to facilitate the enhancement and development of eye and vision care worldwide via education, humanitarian outreach and policy development.”

WCO commended the Minister’s current involvement and his genuine concern for the health of the public and pledged the continuing support to the development of eye care in Malaysia for the benefit of the public.
The key points raised by WCO in the discussions included:

• Ensuring the public understands the scope of the services offered by qualified and regulated eye care professionals.
• Ensuring the provision of the highest standards of eye care to the public, by maintaining professional competency through a process of continuing education.