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GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
RAJYASABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1227
TOBE ANSWERED ON10THFEBRUARY,2026
NEED FORANATIONALREGULATORYFRAMEWORK FOROPTOMETRIC
SERVICES
1227.DR.AJEETMADHAVRAOGOPCHADE:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased tostate:
(a) whether it isaware that a substantial section of India’s population relieson spectacles and
contact lenses for daily activities, thereby making accurate vision correction a critical public
safety andpublic health concern;
(b) whether the absence of a uniform national regulatory mechanism for optometric services,
covering eye testing, prescription accuracy, lens quality, fitting practices and professional
accountability, mayadversely affect vision healthandcontribute to roadaccidents;and
(c) whether Government proposes to examine international best practices and consider
establishing a statutory National Optical RegulatoryBoard toensure quality?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) to (c) : As per national survey, Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB)
2019 data, refractive errors are responsible for visual impairment in 13.4% population
above 50 yearsage and29.6%population below50yearsage.
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) has
been constituted, inter-alia, for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and
services by allied and healthcare professionals listed under the Schedule of NCAHP Act,
2021. The Optometrist profession (ISCO Code 2267) comes under the Sl. No 5
(Ophthalmic Sciences Professional) of Schedule of NCAHP Act, 2021. The curriculum
for Optometry has been released by National Commission for Allied and Healthcare
Professions (NCAHP) on24.04.2025which isavailableonthe NCAHPwebsite.
Further, Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) regulates quality,
safety and performance of medical devices under the provisions of Drugs and Cosmetics
Act, 1940 and Medical Devices Rules, 2017 thereunder. Spectacles/Contact lenses
intended for vision correction are regulated as medical devices under Medical Devices
Rules, 2017and are requiredtocomplywith the applicable standards for ensuring quality,
safety andperformance asprescribed underthe said rules.
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