Pakistan’s Fight Against Diabetes for a Healthier Future

The purpose of celebrating World Diabetes Day is to raise awareness about diabetes and its prevention. Today, Pakistan is working with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization to improve the lives of millions of people with diabetes. The theme of World Diabetes Day from 2024 to 2026 is “Diabetes and Well-Being,” which calls for a focus on access to care and support for people with this disease.
Despite numerous scientific advances in the world, every 10th person is suffering from diabetes. Sadly, 50% of people with this are still undiagnosed. This increases the rate of complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, neurological disorders, stroke and blindness in patients with this.

Pakistan is also facing the challenge of this disease and about 33 million of our citizens are bearing the burden of diabetes. Due to this alarming rate, Pakistan is in the list of countries with the highest population. An additional 11 million adults in Pakistan have shown early signs of the disease. About 80 to 90 million people with this are not diagnosed, which delays timely treatment. The major risk factors for that in Pakistan include genetic mutations, diet and sedentary lifestyle, as well as environmental and geographical factors.

The Government of Pakistan is fully committed to curbing this increasing rise in diabetic patients and ensuring the well-being of patients. The government has initiated major reforms in the health sector to tackle non-communicable diseases, with diabetes as a key priority. Various programs are being developed for the prevention and control of diabetes at the government level. At the federal level, we will launch the Prime Minister’s Programme for Prevention and Control of  Mellitus in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The programme aims to control the federal areas and provide universal health coverage, diagnosis and treatment for diabetics in all provinces, as well as improving awareness and lifestyle.

The Government of Pakistan is committed to provide health facilities to all. For a prosperous future, the economy depends on reducing the burden of diseases from the citizens. Healthy Pakistan can only be achieved by working together to eliminate diseases.