Thaindian News

Panaji, June 24 (IANS) Denmark is keen to partner with India to facilitate quality healthcare in Goa, Danish ambassador Freddy Svane said here Friday.

“The diabetes registry will aid the government in a population-based approach to risk- assessment and thereby aid in better and effective management of various chronic diseases related to the alarming increase of diabetes,” Svane said in his address at the launch of India’ first diabetes registry.

“In a fast growing and vibrant economy like India, diabetes and its complications can lead to huge human and economic losses… I am keen to ensure even closer cooperation between Danish and Indian organizations in order to facilitate access to quality healthcare in India,” he added.

The diabetes registry has been launched by the Goa government in association with the Denmark-based Novo Nordisk Education Foundation (NNEF) and will monitor the metabolic disease in the state on a regular basis.

“This is the first such exercise of a diabetes registry in the country. The registry will aim to capture details of every individual Diabetes patient in the state and will further aid government health services to monitor each patient based on a unique identification number,” Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane said.

The Goa government has already earmarked around Rs.1.5 crore for a diabetes survey across the state. Rane said the health authorities in the state needed to work harder to ensure that the rate of diabetes was reined in.

“When the survey is over we will have a very clear picture of the prevalence of the disease. As far as we know now, diabetes is a cause for concern and needs to be handled on an urgent basis,” he said.