BANGKOK – The Ministry of Public Health is determined to reduce the number of new diabetes patients in Thailand while looking to improve medical curricula for more effective treatment.
During the annual Siriraj Diabetes Collaborative and Research Meeting, Prof Dr Prasit Watanapa, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, stated that the Public Health Ministry has drawn up urgent plans to keep diabetes under control. He said a goal has been set to bring down the number of new cases of diabetes and promote early diagnosis and treatment, especially among risk groups.
Such an endeavor is in accordance with the United Nations’ target to reduce the overall fatality rate of non-communicable diseases by 25 percent within the year 2025. Responsible agencies are now obligated to ensure that no new patients with diabetes are found.
Moreover, the Public Health Ministry is reportedly seeking cooperation from medical schools in Thailand in increasing students’ awareness of lifestyle modification as a method of diabetes treatment used in parallel with medication.