IDF President Sir Michael Hirst lauds PHFI’s efforts in developing unique and innovative programmes making management of diabetes and related conditions of the highest standard in South Asia
New Delhi, December 05, 2015: Recognizing that the economic burden due to diabetes and its associated complications in India is amongst highest in the world, Public Health Foundation of India, a premier think-tank and research institute in South Asia reaffirmed its commitment to scale-up its ‘Diabetes Capacity Programme’ in India, and further taking it to various countries in the South Asia region.
Diabetes and its associated complications are one of the most serious public health problems in India, with India ranked second in terms of prevalence globally. The International Diabetes Federation estimates the number of patients with diabetes in India at 69.189 million of which 36.061 million are estimated to be undiagnosed and it is estimated that by 2040 the numbers will increase upto 123.5 million people, a truly frightening expected increase of 78.5%. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that diabetes, heart disease and stroke will cost $237 billion in lost income for India from 2005 to 2015. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) states that a low-income Indian family with an adult living with diabetes can spend up to 25% of their income on diabetes care.
Representing PHFI at the World Diabetes Congress 2015, in Vancouver, Prof D Prabhakaran, Vice President Research – PHFI, said, “The socio- economic burden of diabetes and its associated complications in India, and many low and middle income countries can be reduced by timely intervention from trained healthcare professionals if diagnosed at an early stage. PHFI reaffirms its commitment to improve health outcomes of people and will embark upon a renewed roadmap to address the current constraints in the health system to effectively manage diabetes and its associated complications in India and the rest of the South Asian continent. In this context it becomes essential that there are quality educational initiatives that aid the healthcare community in clinical diagnosis and management of diabetes. The various diabetes courses at PHFI will meet these challenges and help physicians improve their knowledge of diabetes, related complications, diagnosis and management, through more systematic and structured contact programmes.”
Presently PHFI runs 4 courses in the field of diabetes management namely – Certificate Course in Evidence Based Diabetes Management, Certificate Course in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Advanced Certificate Course in Prevention and Management of Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease (ACMDC), Diabetic Retinopathy Course. The courses are executive on-the-job training programs that develops core competencies of doctors (general physicians and specialists) to enhance their skills for practicing evidence based management various types of Diabetes and its associated complications. Over the last 5 years these courses have already trained and churned over 13000 physicians in primary care settings pan-India. The courses have international collaborating partners like IDF, WHF etc. to keep the focus robust with a globally accept values. Two courses – CCEBDM and CCGDM have received IDF recognitions, and are also recognized by various state governments as nodal teaching courses. All courses are offered on a modular basis with judicious mix of case-studies, group discussion and direct teaching with great flexibility to accommodate participant’s requirements. Complete and comprehensive learning package including print and CD modules are provided by organizing institutions. All the courses have a panel of National Experts (nationally and internationally acclaimed Diabetologists, Endocrinologists, Gynecologists, Cardiologists and Ophthalmologists) who are involved in curriculum review and help in deciding course modalities for a South Asia setup. Currently the courses are running in 91 Cities, 24 States, and 4 Union Territories of India, globally one of the highest numbers of training centres in any region/country. Recently these capacity building initiatives by PHFI have won the prestigious PHD Chambers of Commerce award for Excellence in Skill Development for the Year 2015, presented by the honorable Home Minister of India.
Lauding PHFI’s efforts in the realm of NCDs, especially Diabetes management, Sir Michael Hirst, President of the International Diabetes Federation said “Diabetes is one of the major health and development challenges of the 21st century. No country, rich or poor, is immune to this chronic, incurable, and costly epidemic. I am pleased to know that given the current alarming situation of diabetes and its related complications in India, PHFI is reaffirming its commitment towards working to change the ‘diabetes paradox’ that it faces presently. PHFI through its IDF recognized CCEDBM and GDM courses has had fruitful partnership with IDF. These courses provide quality education to Indian doctors, and have gone a long way to address the epidemic of diabetes and its related complications in India. The subsequent development of other innovative courses will make a real difference to the care that can be given to people in India and the South Asia region”
PHFI’s Diabetes Capacity Program aims at expanding the professional capacity of General Physicians in the areas of research and development, medical education and awareness in diabetes management in India and the South Asia region. As part of the Diabetes Capacity Program, more than 5,000 physicians in partnership with global partners and universities, in addition to Indian and South Asian states and countries, will benefit from accredited clinical diabetes and chronic diseases management training programmes. These programmes will equip clinicians with skills to avert diabetes and related complications such as heart and blood vessel diseases, lung diseases, chronic kidney diseases, cancers, arthritis, thyroid dysfunction, strokes and many other conditions in its early stages.
Emphasizing that PHFI recognizes that new approaches to diabetes management are continuously required and that there is a need to develop more innovative training and capacity building programmes to address the public health challenge of diabetes and its related complications in the entire South Asian region, Dr Sandeep Bhalla, Program Director, Training – Centre for Chronic Conditions and Injuries (CCCI) at PHFI said at WDC 2015, “The prevalence of diabetes is increasing at an extremely rapid pace in India and the entire South Asia Region. Hence to build up the future Diabetes health care capacity in the entire region, PHFI aims to enhance its existing courses to create a cadre of trained healthcare professionals equipped to tackle the NCD epidemic in the region that will eventually benefit society by increasing the availability and quality of healthcare provision in the field of Epidemiology and Diabetology.”
Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)
