The National Cataract surgery Registry (NCSR) is a Ministry of Health (MOH) supported service to collect information about cataract surgeries in Malaysia. The information allows us to estimate the cataract surgery treatment rates, and to evaluate its outcomes in the country. Such information is useful for assisting the MOH, Non-Governmental Organizations, private providers and industry in program planning and evaluation, leading to cataract prevention and control.

The NCSR proposal was presented to all Heads of Ophthalmology Departments on 2/10/ 2001 following the seminar on the report on economic evaluation of MOH Ophthalmology services: Cataract surgery, a Modified Budget System research. The concept of NCSR was well received by all Heads of Ophthalmology Departments. They took keen interest in the development of the methodology and the format of case record forms (CRF). The draft CRF content was pilot tested in November 2001 and was refined in December 2001.

The NCSR was launched on 1/1/2002 with the participation of 22 MOH Ophthalmology departments, Hospital Angkantan Tentera, Kem Terendak and Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. These 23 ophthalmology departments pilot test the data collection process, the CRF as well as the management of database of the Cataract surgery Registry Unit (CSRU) from January to June 2002.

The NCSR is co-sponsored by the:

• Ophthalmology Service , MOH

• The Clinical Research Centre (CRC) of the MOH.

An Advisory Committee has been established on 4/01/2002 to oversee the operations of the NCSR. The MOH, Universities, professional bodies, Non-Governmental Organization and private healthcare providers are represented on this committee to ensure that the NCSR stay focus on its objectives, and to assure its continuing relevance and justification.

Purpose of the NCSR

The objectives of the NCSR are to:

1. Determine the frequency and distribution of cataract surgery in Malaysia. These are useful measures of the health burden arising of cataract and its treatment provision in the country

2. Determine the outcomes, and factors influencing outcomes of cataract surgery. This serves the needs of outcome assessment.

3. Evaluate cataract surgery services. This serves the need of accountability.

4. Stimulate and facilitate research on cataract and its management.
    

Sources of data on NCSR in Malaysia

The NCSR receives data on cataract surgery from 2 main sources:

1. The National Vital Registration system (Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara). These data are useful for determining or verifying mortality outcomes of patients after cataract surgery.

2. And most important of all, the individual doctors who provide cataract surgery services, and voluntarily report data to the NCSR. Getting these source data producers (SDPs) to collect and report the required data are the most critical and yet difficult element of the system. It has to be systematic and uniform, and the staff of SDPs need to be trained and constantly motivated to ensure high data quality.

Current participants of the NCSR are published in NCSR’s website at http://www.acrm.org.my/ncsr as well as in all NCSR’s publications.

Wouldn’t you want to report to the NCSR?

Click here for listing of NCSR participants

For the NCSR to succeed, ideally all health professionals who perform cataract surgery ought to report to the NCSR. Unlike communicable disease, cataract and its treatment, cataract surgery however is not reportable. We urge you to do your bit for our community, and help NCSR obtain the information so crucial to promoting the welfare of patients who will need and have had cataract surgery performed.

What are the benefits of participating in NCSR?

Apart from doing your bit for our community, here are some other benefits to participating in NCSR:

• Invitation to all functions organized by the NCSR.

• Acknowledgement in all publications of the NCSR.

• Personal copy of all NCSR publications free of charge.

• Free listing in the NCSR’s web site.

• Tap into a network of like-minded people from diverse professional disciplines and backgrounds.

What about confidentiality?

Current legislation allows doctors to release their patients’ data to persons demonstrating a need, which is essential to public health and safety. The NCSR meets this requirement.
The NCSR have also developed strict policies and procedures to maintain confidentiality in disclosure of data.