Novo Nordisk vows to make Goa role model in diabetes control measures HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JUNE 20 Global Vice-President-Global Diabetes Partnerships Novo Nordisk, Lene Andersen, on Saturday assured to strengthen the hands of State Government to make Goa a role model in its diabetes control measures for other states to follow. Andersen, who spoke to media persons in the presence of Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane and other top Indian officials of the company at a starred hotel in the city, projected a grim scenario, “In phase I, which was launched in August 2008, Novo Nordisk scanned 15,000 patients in Goa out of which 17% were found to be diabetic.” She maintained it was important to see that patients are fully empowered to take control of the disease. Goa is very important to us and we want to make it a role model for other states to follow in diabetes control measures, she stated. Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane observed the State Government had decided to strengthen its partnership with Novo Nordisk which is doing an excellent job in controlling the disease. Goa is a model state as far as the disease control programme was concerned and there’s still a lot to be done, he emphasised and added, “We have signed a MoU with Novo Nordisk and the same is an ongoing one.” Rane informed phase II of the control programme would officially take off on August 15 and as part of it assured free insulin to patients coming to GMC and in district hospitals. The medicine would be provided by Novo Nordisk and all the necessary formalities like tendering had been completed, he informed. He said six places, including Pernem, Bicholim and Cansaulim, have been earmarked where insulin would be given. Rane made a special reference to Cansaulim which has the highest number of diabetic patients. A Novo Nordisk official said out of the total number of people from Cansaulim who attended the medical camps 38 per were found to be diabetic. Rane said the nitty gritties of distribution of insulin and other measures to be followed in the disease control programme would be taken up by a core group. We will also have full-fledged diabetic clinics in North and South and also a Diabetes Registry. He mentioned having the registry was top priority. The Health Minister said he would make an amendment in the health act to impress upon private doctors to give data about diabetic patients visiting their clinics. He said to strengthen the diabetes control programme in rural areas anganwadi workers would be trained. These would be given incentives so as to encourage them, he added. Managing Director, Novo Nordisk-India, Melvin D’Souza said the company had spent Rs 65 lakh in the first phase to find out the extent of the disease in Goa. “We are not looking at Goa commercially but want to create a valuable data base for reference,” he mentioned. Melvin said if aggressive steps were taken to control diabetes at the initial stages many complications could be averted in the patient in future.
