Zeiss Group, a German optical systems and optoelectronics manufacturer, has teamed up with Healthcare Cloud, a Chinese online health services provider, to tap into the potential of ophthalmic services in China.

The two parties launched an internet-based doctor-patient connectivity program last week during the recently-concluded sixth China International Import Expo. The program aims to leverage on digital tools to improve ophthalmic care for Chinese patients, especially ones provided by grassroots medical facilities.

According to the national eye health plan for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) unveiled by the National Health Commission last year, it is of great importance for China to promote myopia and fund disease screenings in order to prevent and control eye diseases. For that purpose, it is important to make full use of digital technologies to overcome restrictions from the unbalanced and inadequate healthcare resources, to coordinate utilization of medical resources and improve accessibility and coverage of high-quality medical services in the country.

Zhou Xingtao, dean of the Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University, said that the utilization of digital technologies in clinical scenarios can not only help increase efficiency of hospitals and generate large amounts of data that are important for academic research, but can also facilitate high-level hospitals to help with the development of grassroots hospitals, thus providing patients with increased supplies of high-quality medical services.

Maximilian Foerst, president and CEO of Zeiss Greater China, said that based on its insight into the Chinese market, Zeiss will continue to cooperate with local partners to explore the applications of digital technologies in ophthalmology, provide more full-circle eye health solutions and promote the high-quality development of the eye health industry in China.

In an interview with China Daily, Wang Wei, head of Zeiss myopia prevention and management, said China is a very important market for Zeiss, and the company feels encouraged as the country has attached great importance to prevention and management of myopia. The company will continue to invest in new technology and innovations to make contributions to the country's myopia prevention and management, she said.