Health experts and officials have called for the establishment of a separate national institute to coordinate diabetes prevention, treatment, and management programs across the country. Speaking at a discussion held in Dhaka on Wednesday, participants said the current fragmented structure lacks coordination among various agencies, creating barriers to patient care.

Lack of Coordination Cited as Key Hurdle

Speakers noted that while diabetes is spreading as a silent epidemic, prevention and treatment efforts remain scattered. The absence of a central body has led to inconsistencies in public health policy formulation, public awareness campaigns, physician training, and medicine supply chains. "Establishing a dedicated institute would ensure a coordinated pathway from diagnosis to long-term care," they said.

Hypertension Drug Stock Crisis

The discussion also highlighted serious concerns over the near-depletion of hypertension drug stocks at government health complexes and hospitals. Speakers said the ongoing government hypertension control program is being hampered by supply shortages, disrupting treatment for patients. They urged authorities to urgently replenish supplies and develop a sustainable plan to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and hypertension.

Private Sector Collaboration

The role of the private sector was praised during the discussion, with recent initiatives cited as positive examples. The renewal of a partnership between a private bank and a research institute for a tuberculosis treatment center was highlighted as a model. Speakers suggested that public-private partnerships could play an equally effective role in diabetes control.

Next Steps

Experts have called on the government to take necessary steps to establish a national diabetes institute. They also recommended immediate replenishment of hypertension drug stocks and the formulation of a comprehensive action plan for NCD control. A memorandum to the relevant authorities was also discussed as a possible next step.