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Chennai - "United Kingdom is keen to collaborate withIndia in tackling health inequalities, combating the effects ofclimate change, reducing the threat from epidemic disease and increasing access to medicines and innovation globally. India is already playing a big role to improve global health, including the treatment of diabetes," said Ms Ann Keen MP, UK Minister for Health Services.
In her address at the Seminar on "The Diabetes Challenge" organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with the UK Trade & Investment, here on Wednesday, Ms Keen said that India and UK have much to learn from each other. "There is a need to work together and pool our resources and knowledge to ensure that diabetes and diabetic related diseases are identified, and prevented in the future," she said Ms Keen observed that an increasingly ageing population, increased urbanization, obesity, unhealthy diets and a sedentary lifestyle have all contributed to a sharp rise in the numbers of people with diabetes in UK. There are around 2.3 million people who are diagnosed with diabetes. By 2010 this number is expected to reach 3 million in the UK. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), there were an estimated 40 million people living with diabetes or diabetes - related illnesses in India in 2007 and this number is predicted to rise to almost 70 million people by 2025. By then, it is estimated that every fifth person in the world with diabetes will be an Indian.
She pointed out that the WHO estimated that diabetes, heart disease and stroke together will cost about $333.6 billion in India in the next ten years.
Delivering his Special Address, Mr V K Subburaj, IAS, Health Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, said that 46.5 million people in India were affected by diabetes and related illness and India is bearing 20% of the global burden related to diabetes and diabetic related health cost.
He said that unfortunately, there are not enough hospitals in India to treat diabetes and the cost of treatment is not affordable for many people. The country needs to take immediate measures, especially in prevention. The Government of Tamil Nadu is organising prevention camps on diabetes and in the last two years it has conducted more than 8000 camps, screened around 8 million people. Over 2 lakh people were detected on diabetes and related disorders throughout the State, he added.
He pointed out that all primary health centres in the State are provided with basic facilities for diabetic treatment and drugs including insulin are offered free of cost for the past 10 years. Tamil Nadu is the only State that provides drugs, insulin and treatment at free of cost to its citizens
Mr Subburaj said that more than 65 % of people are covered with essential treatment of diabetes. However, the lack of staff is the big problem facing the Government. The Government is introducing certificate courses to empower the medical officers to provide healthcare services in rural areas
He said that preventive measures are key to control diabetes and related illness. Healthy diet, physical exercise and stress free life would help in reducing the risk level on diabetes. He urged media to play an active role in create awareness mongst people about the diabetes challenges.
In his keynote address, Dr Prathap Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals & Chairman, CII National Committee on Healthcare said that one fourth of the world of diabetes are in India and one fourth of the GDP of India is spent for diabetes. Unfortunately, India is going to be the diabetic capital of the world and the heart disease capital of the world.
Highlighting the scope of collaboration between India and UK in combating the health issues, Dr Reddy said that though India has adequate healthcare infrastructure and resources, the country lacks in skilled professionals to prevent and treat lifestyle diseases.
Dr Reddy urged the healthcare industry to adopt new technology and innovation to provide quality and cost effective healthcare services at the people of the country, especially in the rural areas. He said that the small and medium hospitals in the country need to be in the front-end in providing healthcare services to the people as they would cover large population compared to big hospitals.
Dr V Mohan, Chairman & Chief Diabetologist, Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialty Centre and Director, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Chennai, said that India is the first to spend the highest portion of its GDP for diabetes care in the world. Over 50% of the people in India do not know that they have diabetes and even in cities less than 12% have the awareness on diabetes control.
He said that the collaboration with UK will help India access technology in manufacturing cheaper diabetic accessories, to make them affordable for common man. He also observed that there is a need for collaboration in education, as India does not have institutions offering special courses on diabetes.
In his address, Mr David Hawkins, UKTI Life Sciences Specialist and Mission Leader, said that ban on smoking and effective lifestyle changes go a long way in preventing diabetes. Britain had banned smoking last July and India launched the ban recently which is a move in right direction, he said.
Mr T T Ashok, Chairman, Task Force on International Business Promotion & Networking, CII (SR) and Mr Mike Connor, British Deputy High Commissioner also spoke.
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