St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group, established in 1882, is a charitable organization dedicated to providing expert eye care in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. The organization treats patients regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or ability to pay. It has been a pioneer in eye care in the region, initially set up under the bequest of Queen Victoria to address the high incidence of eye diseases in the Middle East. The hospital is part of the larger history of the Order of St John, which has provided care and relief across the world for centuries​​.

The hospital has received numerous recognitions for its work, including the prestigious 2023 António Champalimaud Vision Award. It operates a main facility in East Jerusalem and satellite centers throughout the region, including a recently opened hospital in Hebron and clinics in Anabta and Gaza. The group also runs mobile outreach programs to reach remote patients, emphasizing its mission to treat preventable blindness and provide high-standard eye care accessible to all in the region​​.

The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group provides a range of specialized services focusing on eye care within the Palestinian Territories, including the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. The main hospital in East Jerusalem, along with additional hospitals in Gaza and Hebron and clinics in locations like Anabta and Kufor Aqab, offers extensive services for eye care. These include large outpatient departments, specialist eye units, operating theaters, and 24-hour emergency eye services​​.

The hospital is noted for treating some of the most complex eye cases referred from across the Palestinian Territories. It has earned international recognition, holding accreditations like the Joint Commission International and ISO 9001:2015, showcasing its commitment to high standards of patient safety and quality service​​.

Moreover, St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group operates mobile outreach services and educational programs to address eye health needs in more remote or restricted areas. These initiatives are crucial in regions where movement restrictions and economic barriers significantly affect access to healthcare​.

Annually, the hospital reaches over 135,000 patients, offering treatments irrespective of patients' ethnicity, religion, or ability to pay, thus emphasizing its mission of providing equitable healthcare services​.

The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group is highly regarded for its quality of eye care, particularly in providing services under challenging conditions in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. This charitable organization treats patients irrespective of their ethnicity, religion, or ability to pay, which speaks to its strong ethical foundation and commitment to universal healthcare access.

The hospital has consistently demonstrated its commitment to maintaining high standards of medical care, evidenced by receiving the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation for the fourth time. This prestigious accreditation is a testament to the hospital's dedication to patient safety and quality medical services​​.

In addition to its accreditations, the hospital's impact is notable in its scale and scope of services. In 2023, it reached 135,293 patients and performed 5,966 surgeries. The hospital also engages in significant outreach and education efforts to combat eye diseases, many of which are preventable yet prevalent due to regional health challenges​.

Moreover, the hospital is an integral part of the international effort to combat preventable blindness, having joined the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. This membership links them with other global entities focused on reducing blindness through improved access to care and education​.

St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group is a crucial institution providing specialized and highly competent eye care in a region with significant health challenges and limited access to specialized medical services.

St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group is a leading organization dedicated to providing crucial eye care in the Middle East, particularly in areas with limited access to such services. The strategic direction and purpose of this hospital group are multifaceted:

1. Healthcare Provision: The primary mission of the hospital is to prevent blindness and treat vision impairments. They offer comprehensive eye care services ranging from simple eye tests to advanced surgical procedures, ensuring access to high-quality eye care for all, regardless of ability to pay.

2. Education and Training: The hospital plays a significant role in education and training. It provides specialized training for local healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and technicians. This effort helps build local capacity and ensures sustainability in eye care services.

3. Research: Engaging in medical research, especially in areas prevalent in the local population such as diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, is another key aspect. This research helps improve understanding of eye diseases and tailors treatments to be more effective in the local context.

4. Outreach and Community Services: The hospital extends its services beyond its physical locations through mobile clinics and outreach programs. These programs are vital in reaching underserved and remote communities, offering screenings, treatments, and surgeries.

5. Advocacy and Awareness: Raising awareness about eye health and advocating for policies that support vision care accessibility and affordability are also integral to their strategy. This includes public health campaigns and collaborations with other organizations.

The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group has been recognized with the prestigious 2023 António Champalimaud Vision Award. This award is given for their significant contributions in combating blindness and providing essential eye care in conflict-affected areas of Palestine, including the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The award highlights the hospital's role in offering critical health services and its efforts in research, training local eye care providers, and delivering state-of-the-art services to vulnerable populations​​.

This accolade is particularly notable as the António Champalimaud Vision Award is one of the most significant in the vision field, reflecting the hospital's impactful work in a challenging environment.