ABSTRACT

Purpose

Cataract surgery, quantity and quality, is an indicator of ophthalmic care. A comprehensive assessment of cataract surgical services has never been carried out in Palestine, including West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. The objective of this study was to estimate the cataract surgical rate in 2015 to and to explore the modes of payment and referral systems.

Methods

A cross-sectional study conducted between June and August 2016. Medical Directors from Cataract Surgical Centres in Palestine were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to extract data on cataract output and surgical techniques. Additionally, data were collected on modes of payment for cataract services. The cataract surgical rate was calculated by dividing the total cataract output in 2015 by the estimated population of Palestine in millions.

Results

In 2015, 9908 cataract surgeries were carried out in 22 centres. The cataract surgical rate was 2,117 operations per million population. Phacoemulsification was the most common technique (73.4%), however in government centres 67% were performed by extracapsular cataract extraction.

In the Gaza Strip, 56.6% of cataract surgeries were operated at government centres, and 42.8% were operated at NGO centres while in West Bank, only 12% of cataract surgeries were operated at government centres, with two-thirds of cataracts diagnosed at governmental centres being referred to private and NGO centres. Seventy eight percent of cataract surgeries were funded by insurance, of which the government insurance scheme contributed 65%.

Conclusion

The cataract surgical rate in Palestine falls short of the required WHO target. The majority of cataract surgeries are funded by insurance.

中文翻译：

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巴勒斯坦的白内障手术服务

摘要

目的

白内障手术的数量和质量，是眼科护理的一个指标。包括西岸、加沙地带和东耶路撒冷在内的巴勒斯坦从未对白内障手术服务进行过全面评估。本研究的目的是估计 2015 年的白内障手术率，并探索支付方式和转诊系统。

方法

2016 年 6 月至 8 月期间进行的一项横断面研究。使用结构化问卷采访了来自巴勒斯坦白内障手术中心的医疗主任，以提取有关白内障输出和手术技术的数据。此外，还收集了有关白内障服务支付方式的数据。白内障手术率的计算方法是用 2015 年的白内障总产量除以巴勒斯坦估计的数百万人口。

结果

2015年，在22个中心进行了9908例白内障手术。白内障手术率为每百万人口 2,117 例。超声乳化术是最常见的技术（73.4%），但在政府中心，67% 是通过囊外白内障摘除术进行的。

在加沙地带，56.6% 的白内障手术在政府中心进行，42.8% 在 NGO 中心进行，而在西岸，只有 12% 的白内障手术在政府中心进行，三分之二的白内障手术在政府中心进行中心被转介给私人和非政府组织中心。78%的白内障手术由保险资助，其中政府保险计划贡献了65%。

结论

巴勒斯坦的白内障手术率达不到世卫组织要求的目标。大多数白内障手术由保险资助。