Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced its participation as a High Impact Partner in the inaugural Global Summit for Eye Health, set to take place on November 2, 2026, in Antigua & Barbuda. The summit, organized by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to address the global challenge of vision impairment.
The event will see the launch of the Global Eye Health Compact, a new framework designed to accelerate progress in eye health through measurable commitments from governments and organizations. Santen's role as a High Impact Partner involves shaping the compact and unveiling its global eye health commitment during the summit.
Rie Nakajima, Director of the Board and Chief Operating Officer of Santen Global, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling vision impairment. Nakajima stated, “No single organization can solve the growing burden of vision impairment alone. By working alongside governments, healthcare professionals, patient organizations, and global partners, we can help strengthen eye health systems, improve access to quality eye care, and deliver lasting benefits for people around the world.”
Santen's involvement at the summit builds on its longstanding collaboration with IAPB and other partners in the eye health community. The company has been active in initiatives to advance childhood myopia and promote healthy eye health habits for children.
Peter Holland, CEO of IAPB, welcomed Santen's participation, noting that collaboration is essential to delivering eye care services at scale and speed. Holland commented, “Only by working together like this can we deliver eye care services at scale and speed to end avoidable or treatable sight loss.”
The summit will bring together heads of government, ministers, international organizations, civil society, and private-sector leaders to set concrete commitments for strengthening eye health services worldwide. The goal is to align global action and accelerate progress to reach over 1 billion people living with avoidable sight loss.
Santen's participation in the summit underscores its commitment to advancing eye health and addressing one of the world's most overlooked public health challenges. With more than 135 years of dedication to eye health, the company aims to contribute significantly to the realization of improved global eye health outcomes.