Doctors criticise flying eye hospital

DOCTORS have accused the flying eye hospital, Orbis, of failing to make the best use of donations and exaggerating the number of blind people it has helped.

Ophthalmologists believe the project's unique hospital may not be the most cost-effective way of restoring sight to the blind in poorer parts of the world.

Dr Ho Chi-kin, president of the Hong Kong Ophthalmological Society, said: ''I believe Orbis is doing something worthwhile, but I have my doubts as to its cost-effectiveness.

''The plane flies into cities, operates on a number of blind people over several days and then leaves taking all the equipment with it which does not really help people in rural areas.'' Dr Ho suggested the money might be better spent buying new ophthalmological equipment, training doctors to use it and then giving it to them so they can continue restoring sight.

''While it is difficult to say what is the best and most cost-effective way of doing things I think the number of blind people they have helped has probably been over-estimated.''.

Dr Ho also said the DC-10 could only land in cities, so doctors and patients from rural areas had to travel to the plane.

He said: ''The project's objective is very noble but I don't think these doctors will be able to apply what they have learnt when they return to the rural areas.'' But the president of Orbis, Oliver Foot, said he had evidence that doctors trained through the plane had been able to use their skills to restore sight.