Goa launches free treatment for diabetics

Welfare scheme

The programme which will be run in association with the Novo Nordisk Education Foundation is aimed at capturing details of every individual diabetes patient in the state and it will further aid government health services to monitor each patient based on a sixteen digit unique identification number.

Launching the registry, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said: “Diabetes is considered the root cause of all diseases. This registry is a step forward in tackling this disease where even the poor will realize whether they are suffering from diabetes.”

The carrot that the government is offering to people to come forward to be a part of the registry is free treatment for those detected with diabetes, be it insulin shots or tablets required to keep it under control.

Under a MoU signed with the Danish pharmaceutical in 2008, doctors and workers at the government health centres have been trained manage the disease effectively.

Ambassador of Denmark to India, Freddy Svane appreciated Goa for setting a benchmark as those who suffer are ordinary people and diabetes and its complications can lead to huge human and economic loss.

Speaking about the free treatment, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said the government was trying to reduce complications for the families who are burdened with spiraling expenses. “This is a sensitive approach by the government which is why we have moved so fast on it. We are trying to change the lifestyle of the people,” he said.

There are an estimated 5.8 crore people who are diabetic and the economic cost of diabetes is estimated to be 2.1% of the GDP. Complications arising from diabetes include heart disease, hypertension, and diabetic retinopathy.