WHO and OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation Partner to Expand Vision Care in NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Blocks

New Delhi, October 09 2025: The World Health Organization (WHO) and the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation have announced a partnership to expand access to vision care in NITI Aayog’s aspirational blocks. The collaboration supports WHO’s global SPECS 2030 target to increase effective refractive error coverage by 40% by 2030 and aims to strengthen primary healthcare systems by integrating eye health services across underserved regions.

The initiative will build on Karnataka’s successful ASHA Kirana program — an integrated model that embeds eye health services within primary healthcare systems. Developed by the Government of Karnataka with technical support from the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, the program has demonstrated success in delivering universal vision care, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

As the technical partner, the Foundation designed the program’s door-to-door screening process, trained ASHA (community health) workers, ensured the affordability and quality of spectacles, and piloted two vision centers in government hospitals. Earlier this year, Karnataka announced the statewide expansion of the program with 393 new vision centers and the training of 40,000 ASHA workers to serve 63 million residents.

Anurag Hans, Head of Mission at EssilorLuxottica and President of the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, said, “Karnataka's ASHA Kirana program is proof that comprehensive eye care can be delivered at scale when you have the right partnerships in place. We've learned that long-term impact requires deep technical collaboration with government systems. Now we're ready to take these learnings nationwide, working state by state to build permanent capacity that will serve these communities for decades to come.”

Dr. Roderico Ofrin, WHO Representative to India, added, “This partnership demonstrates how locally-led innovations can advance global health priorities. By strengthening primary eye care and community-based delivery in India's aspirational blocks, this initiative will provide valuable insights for improving access and equity in eye health. The learnings from this collaboration will inform and complement efforts like SPECS 2030 in diverse settings worldwide, supporting countries to accelerate progress towards integrated people-centered eye care in a sustainable and context-appropriate way.”

Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka, stated, “The Government of Karnataka remains committed to delivering quality healthcare services at the doorstep of every citizen. The ASHA Kirana program is a key initiative designed to extend eye health services to the grassroots level. As part of this effort, 393 vision centers have been established across the state, providing sustainable and accessible eye care to communities. We are proud that the World Health Organization has recognized the ASHA Kirana model and expressed interest in documenting it for potential replication in other states and countries.”

Implementation will begin with pilots in five aspirational blocks identified by NITI Aayog, adapting the ASHA Kirana model to local needs. The pilots will generate evidence, tools, and policy guidance for wider adoption across states with high rates of uncorrected refractive errors.

By embedding eye health into India’s primary healthcare system, the initiative aims to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, build long-term capacity, and improve access for underserved communities — contributing directly to India’s universal health coverage goals and WHO’s global vision targets.