By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : October 09, 2025 8:41 am
WHO’s global SPECS 2030 target to increase effective refractive error coverage by 40% by 2030
The OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, one of the largest global foundations dedicated to expanding inclusive access to vision care, has partnered with the World Health Organization (WHO) to accelerate the delivery of vision services in NITI Aayog’s aspirational blocks, supporting WHO’s global SPECS 2030 target to increase effective refractive error coverage by 40% by 2030.
The partnership will document, adapt, and scale Karnataka’s successful ASHA Kirana program, an integrated approach that embeds eye health services within primary healthcare systems.
Developed by the Government of Karnataka with the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation as its technical partner, this model has proven effective in providing universal coverage, even in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
As technical partner, the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation designed the door-to-door screening process, trained ASHA (community health) workers, ensured the quality and affordability of spectacles provided, and piloted two vision centers in government hospitals.
Earlier this year, Karnataka committed to expanding the program statewide by setting up 393 new vision centers in government health facilities and training 40,000 ASHA workers to serve all 63 million people in the state. Recognized by both the WHO and the National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI) as a national reference model, ASHA Kirana is now guiding integrated vision care in other states across India.
Implementation will begin with pilots in five aspirational blocks identified by NITI Aayog, where the ASHA Kirana model will be adapted to local health systems and community needs. These pilots will generate the evidence, tools, and policy guidance needed for scale-up across other states with a high burden of uncorrected refractive errors.
By embedding eye health into India’s primary healthcare system, the partnership will strengthen existing health infrastructure, build long-term capacity, and expand opportunities for underserved communities. In doing so, it contributes directly to WHO’s SPECS 2030 target on effective refractive error coverage and supports India’s wider commitment to universal health coverage.