14/11/2023
Access to quality healthcare is a fundamental right, yet millions of people around the world still face significant barriers in accessing diabetes care.
The theme for World Diabetes Day 2023, "Access to Diabetes Care" aligns with the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region's NCD flagship.
Globally, around 422 million people have diabetes, and 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes every year. In the WHO South-East Asia Region, more than 96 million people are estimated to have diabetes.
Diabetes and its complications (blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, and lower limb amputation) bring about substantial economic loss to people with diabetes and their families, and to health systems and national economies. This toll is manifested through direct medical expenses and the loss of work and wages. The predictions regarding the future economic burden of diabetes are as alarming as those regarding its future prevalence.
Improving access to care for diabetes is a priority in India. We appeals to take measures through several key avenues that includes:
First, it is imperative to scale up the efforts to reduce risk factors adopting a life course approach. This will need a ‘whole- of-society’ and ‘whole- of-government’ approach along with social participation.
Second, a focus on bridging the treatment gap and achieving better disease control among patients is essential. This can be achieved through application of treatment protocols delivered through trained caregivers, and equipping primary healthcare with advanced technology, including HbA1c testing for disease monitoring. Additionally, efforts should be enhanced to make diabetic drugs, including insulin, more affordable and accessible in primary health care.
Third, timely diagnosis and management of complications of diabetes, with a specific focus on high-risk individuals has to be taken up as part of the care continuum. Implementing up-to-date guidelines for early complication detection, establishing efficient referral pathways for patients to access higher-center evaluations, and enabling teleconsultation to enhance healthcare accessibility are critical components.
Fourth, implementing an information system that facilitates longitudinal monitoring and follow-up of individuals, and utilizing digital solutions to measure a minimal set of indicators, is critical.
Furthermore, investment in research and technology to simplify self-care management is needed.
Diabetes care should be within reach, economical, and of high quality for all, irrespective of their socio-economic status or geographical location. It is a shared responsibility of everyone including governments, healthcare providers, and communities. Small investment today can lead to big gains in the future. This World Diabetes Day under the theme of Access to Diabetes Care, together, let's strive to promote the key message “Know your risk, Know your response."
