About 20,000 elderly people in Thailand are at risk of developing cataract each year. 

Md Sa-nguan Nittayarampong (สงวน นิตยารัมภ์พงศ์), secretary-general of the National Health Insurance Office (NHIO), said about 60,000 people are suffering from cataract, which is the leading cause of blindness, and every year an additional 20,000 are expected to develop the disease. 

Dr. Sa-nguan said NHIO and ophthalmologists across the country will jointly provide eye surgery services for cataract patients under the 30-baht medical care. The services, funded by a budget of 90 million baht, will continue until September this year, he said. 

Dr. Sa-nguan expected cataract patients on the waiting list will all be cured within the next three years.