Deliverables
The SAOA accommodates its obligation to its members in accordance with five categories of responsibility:
- Private Practice – All issues which are pertinent to daily practice including codes , medical scheme liaison , supplier liaison , position papers , ethics , legislation etc
- Professional Development - Education related activities including Continuing Professional Development , Student liaison , scope of Practice , an Optometric Assistants Course
- Marketing – Addresses image and reputation of SAOA and associated eye care professions , Eye Care Awareness Programmes and Projects , Relationship Management , patient friendly materials , event management etc
- Community Eye Care – Facilitates the delivery of affordable , accessible eye care to underprivileged communities and individuals throughout South Africa , in accordance with the Vision 20/20 programme , committed to address avoidable blindness and the plight of the ‘needlessly blind ‘
- Administration – Head Office located in Midrand, Gauteng responsible for management and running the affairs of the SAOA organization.
A major role of the SAOA, across the spectrum of portfolios, is advocacy on behalf of the professions at all levels. (Eg Government, Medical Schemes, Statutory bodies etc)
In addition the SAOA has developed a pool of expertise to advise and assist members , collectively and on an individual basis , related to an extended range of topics including Clinical and Technical , Finance , Human Resources , Ethics , Legal.
The Indemnity Insurance offered by the SAOA is an extremely attractive automatic benefit for members which includes public liability with no excess payable
In essence, the SAOA behaves as the Eyes, Ears, Voice and Conscience on behalf of the professions of Optometry and Dispensing Opticians.
