GOVERNMENT SPENDING OVER $352-MILLION ON DRUGS FOR DIABETIC TREATMENT

  GOVERNMENT SPENDING OVER $352-MILLION ON DRUGS

FOR DIABETIC TREATMENT ...PM DISCLOSES:

Government, through the National Health Fund (NHF) is spending some $352.6 Million on the provision of drugs related to claims made for diabetic treatment, according to Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

To date, there are over 78,000 registered diabetics under the NHF programme and up to last year there were over 463,000 claims made for treatment, resulting in the expenditure of $352.6million. Clinics and Health Centres, Mr. Golding said, had seen a 15% increase in the number of persons seeking treatment for diabetes.

Mr. Golding made these disclosures last night (March 28) as he presented the 4^th Hugh Lawson Shearer memorial Lecture at the 15^th International Diabetes conference held at the Sunset Jamaica Grand resort in Ocho Rios.  The conference which ends today (March 29) confronted two urgent global issues- diabetes mellitus and HIV/AIDS, the two prevalent diseases with the highest concentration in developing countries.

There are an estimated 350,000 Jamaicans or between 8%-12% of the population, suffering from diabetes and as many undiagnosed cases walking around and not taking the kind of precautions to avoid the consequences of untreated diabetes, the  leading causes of preventable deaths. Together with HIV/AIDS, these have become   major threats to the resources of the country and the amount that has to be spent on health care, Mr. Golding cautioned.

To this end the Prime Minister said he had asked the Ministry of Health  to make some recommendations as to what measures could be instituted to influence the kinds of foods allowed to come into the country bearing in mind World Trade Organisation (WTO) obligations that have to be considered.

However Mr. Golding warned that he was prepared to consider for example tariff measures. "If you want to eat junk food, you'll have to pay for it".

He said labeling standards were considered but that self discipline has not worked. "If we are importing junk, then we need to consider putting some tax so that we can provide the finances to the hospitals to provide treatment for diseases that could be avoided" Mr. Golding said.

The Prime Minister commended the non-governmental organizations which have tried to discourage the kind of practices that have resulted in the increase in diabetes. Organisations singled out included -the Diabetics Association, the Lions Club, the Kidney Foundation, and the HEART Foundation. Note was also taken of the work of Professor Errol Morrision who has spent much of his life on diabetes research.