Rs6.8bn ‘National Diabetes Programme’ to be launched

ISLAMABAD: The inter-ministerial meeting on health and population Monday unanimously decided to launch National Diabetes Programme costing Rs6.8 billion in view of high prevalence of this non-communicable diseases in the country.

“This programme will have the major impact on preventing the high incidence of the diabetes in Pakistan. Free screening, diagnosis facilities will be provided to the patients under this landmark initiative”, Caretaker Federal Health Minister Dr. Nadeem Jan told the meeting, attended by provincial health ministers, secretaries, and other concerned officials.

During the meeting, it was also agreed to launch National Hepatitis Programme to the cost of Rs34.5 billion under which free screening, diagnosis and treatment facilities will be provided across the country. The prime minister of Pakistan will chair of task force established in this connection.

To strengthen primary healthcare, it was decided to launch National Health Support Programme at the cost of Rs430 million. “Around 500 BHU across the country will be refurbished and will be made functional. Provincial government will bear the recurrent cost including appointments of human resources”, the health minister announced.

To decrease the neonatal morbidity and mortality newborn strategy is endorsed and will be implemented throughout the country, he said, adding that it will ensure that supplies and medicine are available at the primary healthcare level.

National Behaviour Change Strategy will introduced for equipping population with necessary knowledge to practice health behaviours, Dr. Nadeem Jan added. The health minister said the role of this forum is to provide national leadership, coordination and align roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders on national priorities and international commitments and also generate consensus on actions to address bottlenecks in implementation related to policy and strategic issues.

This forum also provides an excellent opportunity to undertake joint performance reviews and enhance mutual accountability, he added. During the meeting co-financing the hepatitis and diabetes projects, establishment of Common Management Units (CMUs) at provincial levels, refurbishment of Basic Health Units (BHUs) across the country, National New-born survival strategy and National Behaviour Change Strategy came into discussion.

All the provincial ministers welcomed the initiatives and appreciated Ministry‘s effort of coordination in health and population sector. They said that there is no difference of opinion on any of the area.