By: Aslam Chandio from Islamabad, Pakistan
The total number of diabetics is expected to increase to 12.8 million from 6.7 million by 2035, unless the required measures are taken to tackle the disease, which puts Pakistan among the top countries with the highest number of population suffering from diabetes. There are around 6.7 million people with diagnosed diabetes in Pakistan.
This was stated at the opening session of the Pakistan Diabetes Leadership Forum (PDLF), which is being held in Islamabad from March 1 to March 2 including speakers from Europe, Middle-East and Pakistan.
The inaugural session was addressed by Saira Afzal Tarar, Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, who highlighted the urgency and the scale of the challenge presented by diabetes in Pakistan.
Saira Afzal Tarar stated that Pakistan Diabetes Leadership Forum would be addressing not only one of the most critical public health issues in the world – but especially in Pakistan. “Over the next two days, this forum shall seek to identify meaningful changes that can greatly improve the lives of people with diabetes and help more people avoid diabetes through national and international prevention strategies”, Saira Afzal Tarar stated.
She thanked both the national and international participants and the sponsors for joining important initiative to fight against diabetes. She emphasized that all of the participants attending the PDLF constitute the various stakeholders who need to collaborate to form a resolute response to diabetes through both policy and healthcare. “The challenge is both great in size and complexity that will require the focus of policy makers, healthcare professionals, industry and media alike”, she stated.
The first panel discussion consisted of high-level dignitaries such as Sir Michael Hirst, President of the International Diabetes Federation, Prof. Pierre Lefèbvre, Chairman of the World Diabetes Foundation and Lars Rebien Sørensen, CEO & President of Novo Nordisk.
Concluding the first panel round, Lars Rebien Sorensen stated, “Diabetes is a major challenge to the healthcare system in Pakistan as well as to people’s quality of life. Only around 3-4% of people with diabetes reach their treatment targets. We are here today to discuss concrete solutions for how to tackle diabetes in Pakistan going forward, how to better prevent the disease as well as increasing access to care and treatment. The healthcare sector, the government and the industry need to work together to make this happen.”
Continuing the first day’s discussion, various panel discussions were held to discuss diabetes prevention and sustainable solutions for care including integrated approach to diabetes care and how to reach the policy actions and targets outlined in the ‘WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2013-2020’. Both national and international speakers discussed the challenges and interventions needed in the health system to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
The event is being hosted by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, Government of Pakistan in joint collaboration with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), the Diabetic Association of Pakistan (DAP), the Baqai Institute of Diabetology & Endocrinology (BIDE), the Pakistan Endocrine Society, the Sakina Institute of Diabetes and Endocrine Research (SiDER) and the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) with support from the Danish global healthcare company Novo Nordisk.
Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk employs approximately 38,000 employees in 75 countries, and markets its products in more than 180 countries.
International speakers also presented the International Diabetes Federation’s regional action plan and practical steps to support the development of national diabetes programs in the Middle-East and North African region. Local perspectives on how to build capacity and deliver integrated care to prevent complications in Pakistan were also shared.
The desired outcome is to discuss and finalize an action plan for improving diabetes care at both local and national levels.
Aslam Chandio is an Islamabad based journalist. He tweets at @aslamchandio_