National strategy for diabetes to be drafted

Whilst reiterating government’s commitment to address the challenges of diabetes in Malta, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Chirs Fearne, announced that the government was working to devise a national strategy to help people who suffer from diabetes, whilst at the same time implementing measures to inform and educate the public on the illness.

In this regard, a consultative group has been founded in order to hold meetings with various stakeholders in the sector, such as NGOs, professionals and even patients, Fearne said.

Sectors that are being discussed will include an analysis on services currently in place, the implementation of new and innovative treatments, support and rehabilitation for patients, the psychosocial aspects of diabetes, policies of prevention and awareness campaigns, especially among the vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.

The consultation document will be launched to the public on 14 November 2014, on the occasion of World Diabetes Day.

“We are seriously committed in addressing this condition, which amounts to ten percent of the population,” Fearne said, pointing out that this resulted in 30,000 people. “These people need to be given good services than what they are being given today.”

The Parliamentary Secretary said that, although comprehensive care is currently being offered from both the public and private health sectors, it needs substantial improvement after a lack of innovation and investment made in the sector over the past 10 years.

Government is currently working on several initiatives to provide better care to people who have diabetes. These include investment in new apparatus, Fundus Camera in the Mosta and Floriana health centers as from this August, more intensive training for doctors in the coming weeks, the introduction of a post-graduate diploma in diabetics as from September, as well as the introduction of the Diabetes Register in 2015.

Fearne said that the purpose behind the national strategy against diabetes will be another step forward to improve the quality of life for people with diabetes and their families, to strengthen the role of professionals in primary care with the services offered to children and adolescents, to address the needs of vulnerable groups such as persons with mental health and diabetes and to help detect early diagnoses and treatment to prevent further complications.