The Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, met this afternoon with Professor Patrick Yu-Wai-Man and Dr Cynthia Yu-Wai-Man, two Mauritian ophthalmologists based in the United Kingdom, to discuss initiatives aimed at strengthening the screening and treatment of eye diseases in Mauritius.
The discussions focused on introducing new screening programmes for glaucoma and diabetes-related eye diseases, which are among the leading causes of visual impairment in Mauritius. The proposed collaboration would bring together specialists from Cambridge and London, alongside experts from the Singapore National Eye Centre. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support the early detection of eye diseases is also being considered.
Prime Minister Ramgoolam warmly thanked Professor Yu-Wai-Man and Dr Yu-Wai-Man for their commitment and gave clear directives for the proposed programmes to be implemented without delay. He also expressed concern over the administrative bottlenecks that had previously delayed the initiative.
Professor Patrick Yu-Wai-Man, Chair of Ophthalmology at the University of Cambridge, described the meeting as “very productive” and praised the Prime Minister for his openness to proposals aimed at preventing blindness in Mauritius.
Dr Cynthia Yu-Wai-Man, Associate Professor and Consultant at King’s College London, ophthalmic surgeon and glaucoma specialist at St Thomas’ Hospital, expressed her willingness to introduce the PreserFlo MicroShunt procedure in Mauritius. The procedure, which is not currently available in the country, is designed to reduce pressure in the eye and help prevent vision loss caused by glaucoma.
As part of their commitment to improving eye care services in Mauritius, the two specialists donated ten PreserFlo implants, each valued at approximately £1,000, to allow Mauritian patients to benefit from the procedure. They also offered to provide their expertise to Mauritius on a voluntary basis.
“International expertise and equipment offered free of charge cannot remain blocked by bureaucracy. This is precisely why the system must change,” stated PM Ramgoolam.
The proposed collaboration underlines Government’s commitment to modernising healthcare services, improving access to specialised expertise and innovative technologies, and removing administrative barriers, with patients placed at the centre of the healthcare system.
10 August 2026
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Topics: Health
