The need for ophthalmologists in the arab world

الملخص EN

This study aimed at identifying the use of selected national indicators to estimate the need for ophthalmologists in a country.

We examined the association between the rate of population per ophthalmologists and selected national indicators in 27 countries with combined population of 2.8 billion, including 15 Arab nations.

The identified indicators included total hospital beds, total number of physicians, life expectancy at birth, per capita Gross National Product (GNP) and the proportion of the elderly population, 65 years and above, in the country.

The study found statistically significant association between the rate of ophthalmologists in the sample countries and the number of hospital beds, total physicians in the country, life expectancy at birth and per capita GNP.

The correlation between ophthalmologists per population and the elderly population was not statistically significant in the combined sample population or in the Arab countries.

It was, however, strongly significant in the sample of industrialized countries.

In conclusion, we believe that the use of selected national indicators may guide health manpower planners to assess and estimate the need for ophthalmologists in the country.