Professor Karol Sikora, cancer expert and health policy guru, has praised optics for bringing effective regulated competition into healthcare and co-payment where appropriate.
He was speaking as guest of honour at the dinner following FODO's annual general meeting on May 13.
Sikora outlined the challenges facing 21st century healthcare and drew attention to the problem of coping with rising patient demand and public expectations, the difficulties associated with an ageing population, and the struggle that governments the world over were experiencing in addressing these needs.
He said the optical model had blazed a trail for others to follow.
'It is good to hear someone of Professor Sikora's eminence describing how these qualities can be applied to other areas of healthcare,' commented Paul Carroll, FODO chairman. 'It is nice for optics to be recognised as the field leader.'
Highlighting the role FODO plays within Europe, the dinner was attended by Feike Grit, president of the European Council of Optometry and Optics, and Tone Garaas, chair of the ECOO Professional Services Committee.