By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)
Foot complications are among the most serious and costly
complications of diabetes and in Pakistan about 10% of the diabetics suffer
from foot problems, many of which lead to leg amputation, Prof Dr Abdul Basit,
Chairman Pakistan Working Group on Diabetic Food (PWGDF), stated.
In a recent interview he disclosed that currently there are
over 400,000 people with foot ulcers in the country.
He described diabetic foot a source of huge economic burden
as the direct cost of treating a diabetic foot ulcer comes to Rs
3500-61000, which is more than 10 times the average health expenditure of
a Pakistani and added that to treat all the people with foot ulcers an amount
double the total health budget of Pakistan, is needed.
Prof Dr Abdul Basit said that unawareness, shortage of
trained health care professionals and scarcity of foot care facilities are
major causes of diabetes related leg amputations, 45-89% of which are
preventable through timely and efficient foot care.
“We have been conducting nation wide training programs and
have established 115 diabetic foot clinics However further 1700 such clinics
are required,” he stated,
He recalled that PWGDF, in collaboration with Baqai
Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, had organized a symposium on diabetic
as part of efforts to create greater awareness against this serious problem.
Dr Zahid Miyan, Chairman of Organizing Committee emphasized
the need to discuss the current practices in Diabetic Foot management, to
provide hands-on skills.
He pointed out that the symposium organized in this regard
at the end of last month, encompassed a wide horizon of diabetic foot problem,
including prevention and early diagnosis, clinical & surgical management
and recent advances in targeted therapies for diabetic foot.
He said over 200 health care professionals from across the
country including subject specialists and eminent experts shared their
diversified experience in this area.
Dr Zafar Iqbal Abbasi, Symposium Secretary, stated that the
event proved a great leaning opportunity for doctors, family physicians and
health care professionals.
