The dialogue seminar, hosted by the Syrian Association of Eye Doctors and the Syrian Opticians Association at the Damascus Chamber of Commerce today, Friday, discussed the reality of the optics sector and the challenges facing its workers, as well as ways to regulate the profession and develop the laws governing it, in order to elevate the quality of ophthalmic and optical health services provided to patients.
The seminar addressed several axes, including defining professional roles and responsibilities, raising the scientific and technical level of workers in the sector, along with proposals and working papers being prepared to be submitted to the Ministry of Health, in line with scientific and professional developments. Participants stressed the importance of continuing dialogue and coordination between professional associations and government institutions to reach implementable proposals that contribute to regulating the optics sector and developing its services.
The president of the board of directors of the Syrian Opticians Association, Iyad Obeid, emphasized in a statement to SANA correspondent the importance of enhancing cooperation among various workers in the sector and addressing the problems facing the profession for years, to reach practical solutions that contribute to organizing and developing work. Obeid clarified that the association seeks to expand the participation base to include various workers in the optics field, especially optical shop owners, which helps identify existing challenges and unify views on addressing them.
For his part, the general supervisor of the Syrian Opticians Association and member of the committee formed at the Ministry of Health to regulate the optics profession, Imad Aul, pointed to the importance of establishing clear regulatory and legal frameworks that define the mechanisms of practicing the profession and the responsibilities of its workers, while taking into account the situation of graduates and current practitioners. He noted that the Ministry of Health has formed a specialized committee to study the reality of the profession and prepare proposals to amend the systems and laws governing it, thereby contributing to the development of the sector within approved legal frameworks.
Ramz Al-Tawashi, a member of the board of directors of the Syrian Association of Eye Doctors, explained that the seminar constitutes a space for scientific and professional dialogue regarding the intersection points between ophthalmic clinics and optical centers, and clarifying the tasks and responsibilities of each party. He affirmed that the relationship between eye doctors and opticians is based on complementarity rather than competition, which enhances coordination between them and ensures better services for patients through clear and complementary professional roles.
For his part, Fadi Al-Bur, a member of the board of directors of the Syrian Opticians Association, pointed out that the participation of technicians, professionals, specialists, and representatives of companies operating in the sector contributes to establishing a shared vision for developing the profession and raising the scientific and professional level of its workers through training, courses, and workshops. He highlighted the importance of benefiting from experiences and scientific developments in the Arab and global sectors, and qualifying cadres and graduates and developing their skills to keep pace with modern work requirements.
For his part, Wissam Al-Tibaa, vice president of the board of directors of the Syrian Opticians Association, believed that updating and activating the laws regulating the profession is a necessity to keep pace with scientific and professional developments. He noted that the transfer of responsibility for regulating the profession from the Ministry of Industry to the Ministry of Health in previous stages generated challenges, especially in the field of licenses. He clarified that the formation of a committee by the Ministry of Health comprising various relevant sector stakeholders represents a step towards preparing new systems that regulate the profession and take into account the requirements of developments witnessed by the health sector in this field.
It is worth noting that the Syrian Association of Eye Doctors, in cooperation with the Syrian Opticians Association and with support from "Opteva" company, specialized in optics, organized the "Homs Optics" meeting in Homs Governorate last July. It was attended by optics specialists from the governorates of Homs, Hama, Idlib, Latakia, Tartous, Deir Ezzor, Raqqa, and Al-Hasakah. The optics sector is linked to eye health and visual acuity safety, and includes services such as vision testing, correcting refractive errors, and preparing glasses and optical devices, within the limits of accepted professional specialization and licenses.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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