Image: A doctor examines a patient using an enhanced non-mydriatic fundus camera to promote early detection of Diabetic Retinopathy

International eye care charity Orbis has announced a trailblazing new partnership with leading pharmaceutical company Roche Pharma Vietnam, which aims to address the rising tide of serious diabetic eye conditions across the country. Roche Pharma (Vietnam) Ltd. has contributed to this partnership in providing funding, technical expertise, guidance and local health system knowledge.

Over the next two years, Orbis and Roche Vietnam will deliver a co-curated programme, known as The Vietnam Eye Health Programme, which will implement cutting-edge services to improve long-term health outcomes for diabetic patients, protecting thousands of families and communities from the risk of avoidable blindness.

Approximately seven million people[1] in Vietnam have been diagnosed with diabetes, leaving a considerable number of people at risk of developing Diabetic Retinopathy – a serious eye condition which if left untreated, can lead to a gradual loss of vision or blindness that cannot be reversed.

Together, Orbis and Roche Vietnam will establish a comprehensive and sustainable model for diabetic eye care services, ensuring that patients receive seamless care from diagnosis to treatment, led by a holistic and patient-centred approach.

Across seven partner hospitals in the capital Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Orbis and Roche Vietnam will scale up care for diabetic patients, benefitting approximately 27,000 people living with diabetic eye conditions.

The innovative collaboration will provide scientific training to thousands of healthcare professionals, equip partner hospitals with advanced diagnostic tools and medical technology, and implement AI-assisted screening through Orbis’s Cybersight programme to support early detection, referral and treatment. The collaboration will also provide real world data to help local authorities develop technical guidelines in Diabetic Retinopathy management in Vietnam.

Commenting on the partnership, Orbis UK CEO Rebecca Cronin said: “We are delighted to launch this cutting-edge partnership with Orbis Vietnam and Roche. When livelihoods depend on seeing clearly, the risk of undiagnosed or untreated vision problems such as Diabetic Retinopathy can have a devastating impact on communities and families. This cross-country partnership will address a rising problem affecting millions of people, ensuring that more communities in Vietnam have access to the life-changing eye care services they need.”

Ngoc Pham, Country Director for Orbis Vietnam, said: “With more than two million people currently living with blindness and vision loss in Vietnam, the need for this partnership has never been more urgent. Around 90% of these cases are avoidable but despite the considered efforts of the Vietnamese Government and the eye care community, we continue to face obstacles in providing comprehensive eye care services. Our two-year partnership with Roche will help to eliminate the growing stigma and social exclusion created by a lack of understanding of diabetic eye conditions.”

Lennor Carrillo, General Manager, Roche Pharma Vietnam said: “We are delighted to inaugurate this transformative partnership with Orbis, which underscores a shared commitment to addressing avoidable blindness and Diabetic Retinopathy in Vietnam. This project aligns strongly with our three decades of efforts in Vietnam, co-creating solutions that will significantly enhance long-term health outcomes for diabetic patients and the healthcare system across the country.”

Diabetic Retinopathy is currently one of the leading causes of avoidable blindness among Vietnam’s working-age population. From January 2026, this life-changing project will build capacity, solutions and increase AI-assisted eye care screenings to promote early detection and timely treatment.

The partnership is a critical step in addressing the growing challenge of Diabetic Retinopathy in Vietnam, with potential for the programme to be replicated throughout the country beyond its initial two-year duration.

To learn more about Orbis’s work in Vietnam, visit: https://gbr.orbis.org/en/where-we-work/asia/vietnam