Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, has called for a coordinated national effort to address the rising diabetes epidemic in Pakistan. Speaking at the second meeting of the Steering Committee for the Prime Minister’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, Iqbal highlighted the need for a unified approach, emphasizing the program’s goal of increasing awareness and providing preventive care to 33 million citizens.

The five-year initiative, with an estimated cost of $6.8 million, aims for completion by 2029. Senior health officials, provincial representatives, and relevant institutions took part in the meeting, underscoring the program’s collaborative nature.

Iqbal described diabetes as both a health issue and a national development challenge, warning of its potential to severely impact the healthcare system. He stressed the importance of moving from provincial efforts to a national action plan to effectively manage the crisis.

Pakistan ranks among the top three countries experiencing rapid diabetes spread, alongside its significant challenges with tuberculosis and polio. Iqbal pointed out these facts as critical motivators for action, lamenting the country’s contrasting successes in nuclear science against its poor health outcomes.

During the meeting, the Ministry of Health outlined a new nationwide media campaign aimed at enhancing awareness, prevention, control, and treatment of diabetes. The campaign includes training for health workers, establishing a national diabetes registry, and forging research partnerships with universities.

The government has allocated Rs 3,000 million for the current fiscal year, with an additional Rs 800 million planned for the next year. Implementation agencies are being shortlisted to ensure effective program rollout.

A consultative meeting is scheduled for July 2, where federal and provincial representatives will discuss cost-sharing and strategies to maximize the program’s impact.