Third medical mission by French ophthalmology specialist strengthens specialised eye care in Mauritius

The Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Anil Kumar Bachoo, visited New Souillac Hospital, yesterday, to meet Professor Stéphanie Baillif, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University Hospital of Nice, in France.

Professor Baillif is in Mauritius for her third specialised medical mission from 19 to 23 October 2026. She is conducting consultations and performing vitrectomy surgeries to treat delicate and complex conditions affecting the retina and the vitreous gel inside the eye. Her mission aims to strengthen access to advanced ophthalmological care within the public health system, while providing opportunities for knowledge exchange and skills development among local medical professionals.

In his address, the Minister expressed his appreciation to the visiting medical specialist and her team for their continued commitment to improving healthcare services in Mauritius. He highlighted that approximately 400 consultations had been conducted and around 140 surgical operations had been performed during the medical missions.

Minister Bachoo also underlined the significant contribution of the visiting team in enabling patients to receive specialised treatment locally, while the continuation of these missions was welcomed as an opportunity to expand the range of services available to the population. “These initiatives”, he said, “help in strengthening local medical capacity through international cooperation.”

Mr Bachoo further pointed out the Government’s approach of inviting foreign specialists to Mauritius to perform complex procedures and share their expertise with local practitioners, thereby reducing the difficulties faced by patients and their families when seeking treatment abroad. Moreover, he referred to plans to bring in specialists in oncology and spinal surgery as well as to contribute to training and capacity-building in renal transplantation.

For her part, Professor Baillif highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration in strengthening specialised eye care in Mauritius, particularly in the management of complex retinal conditions. She referred to the training undertaken by a Mauritian surgeon who spent six months in France under her supervision, acquiring specialised skills in vitreoretinal surgery. “This experience is expected to contribute to strengthening local expertise and enhancing the capacity to manage complex retinal conditions and provide advanced treatment in Mauritius,” she added.

Professor Baillif expressed her willingness to pursue further collaboration, recognising the importance of continued support, specialised training and knowledge transfer in reinforcing local expertise. She also expressed her appreciation for the cooperation received from the medical, paramedical and administrative teams at New Souillac Hospital, noting that their support contributed to the smooth conduct of the mission. She voiced her hope that the partnership would continue in the coming years, to the benefit of patients and the further development of specialised eye care services in Mauritius.

22 October 2026

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