Pakistan confronts alarming diabetes burden

This was stated at the opening session of the Pakistan Diabetes Leadership Forum (PDLF), which took place in Islamabad from 1-2 March and included international and national speakers, key opinion leaders and policy makers from Europe, Middle-East and Pakistan. The inaugural session was addressed by Her Excellency, Ms. 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.

Multi-sectorial efforts are needed

In her opening remarks Minister 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 also 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”, said Minister Tarar.

She thanked both the national and international participants and the sponsors for joining this important initiative to fight against diabetes. Minister Tarar emphasized that all of the participants attending the PDLF constitute the various stakeholders who need to collaborate to form a resolute response to diabetes both at the policy and health care level. “The challenge is both great in size and complexity and will require the focus of policy makers, health care professionals, the industry and media alike”, said Ms. Tarar.

Uniting coalition of stakeholders

The high level advocacy meeting was the largest policy meeting addressing diabetes and NCDs in Pakistan and was 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), 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.

Bringing heightened attention to prevention and care
The first panel discussion which was moderated by Ms. Mishal Husain, BBC News Presenter and 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 Mr. Lars Rebien Sørensen, CEO & President of Novo Nordisk.

Concluding the first panel round, Mr. Sørensen stated that “Diabetes is a major challenge to the health care 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 will 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 (NCDs) 2013-2020’. Both the national and international speakers discussed the challenges and interventions needed in the health system to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

Other important lectures were presented by the Chairman of the World Diabetes Foundation, Prof. Pierre Lefèbvre, the WHO country representative for Pakistan, Dr. Nima Said and responding to the challenges posed by NCDs in Pakistan was outlined by Dr. Inaam ul Haq, Lead Health Specialist at the World Bank.

Similar situations in Sudan and Pakistan

Several WDF project partners made presentations at the PDLF; one of them was Prof Mohamed Eltom from Sudan. In his presentation he emphasised the importance of strengthening the complete union of three components: academia, civil society and health care providers. “If these three components are strong and work together it is possible to improve access to diabetes care. In Sudan access to diabetes care has improved from 20% to 35% with the funding provided by WDF since 2004 (in 11 projects),” he said.

“At the PDLF I learned that the situation in Pakistan in many ways is similar to that of Sudan. In the near future, it would make a lot of sense to organise a Sudan Diabetes Leadership Forum because it is the best way to bring together high level stakeholders,” says Prof Eltom.

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. Five presentations on local and regional perspectives from projects funded by the World Diabetes Foundation was presented focusing on how to build capacity and deliver integrated models for care to prevent complications in Pakistan.

Catalyzing commitment at the provincial level

During the PDLF, Mr. Shaukat Ali Yousufzai, Minister for Health, Province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Pakistan also announced that the KPK Government will be initiating a PKR 25 million (USD 250.000) project on access to diabetes care the next four months. Minister Yousufzai said that the KPK Government will be providing free insulin to all type 1 patients and to lower income families living with type 2 diabetes. The KPK Ministry of Health will also be including diabetes awareness campaigns in their upcoming health promotion events and encouraged relevant stakeholders to actively participate in such campaigns.

The long-term goal is to facilitate the process of developing a Call to Action document and National Diabetes Action Plan for Pakistan endorsed by the government and national stakeholders. Reflecting on the outcome of this high level meeting the Communication Manager of the World Diabetes Foundation, Jamal Butt elaborates;

“We have now planted seeds for long-term change and I sincerely hope this effort will grow into a sustainable action plan and the roots will grow strong and widen our approach to improved access to diabetes care for Pakistan. It will be the responsibility of all stakeholders including the government to nurture this National Diabetes Action Plan and making sure it materialises into nationwide implementation.”

The above text is mainly based on the press release by Ministry of Health Pakistan