Pakistan’s diabetes expenditure rises to Rs760bn amid surge in cases
smartcybers786@gmail.com 
A health care worker conducting a diabetes test on a patient. — AFP/File
#Pakistans #diabetes #expenditure #rises #Rs760bn #surge #cases
KARACHI: Pakistan’s annual spending on diabetes care has increased from $ 2.6 billion to $ 2.7 billion over the past four years, according to the latest International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas 2025, which is now a major burden on diabetes and diabetes every year.
The latest IDF report reveals that the number of diabetic patients is increasing, which shows that Pakistan now has 34.5 million adults aged 20 to 79 who have become the fourth largest diabetes in the world after China, India and the United States.
The situation is expected to worsen dramatically, which estimates that if immediate action is not taken, the number of diabetes in Pakistan may increase by 2050.
Despite this dangerous increase, Pakistan is the lowest in the world on diabetes care. On average, the annual diabetes patient has only $ 79, leaving many without proper treatment and pushing thousands into destructive health care costs.
The IDF report also states that Pakistan has the highest standard of diabetes globally, which is 31.4 %. This means that one of the three adults in the country is living with this disease. In comparison, the global spread rate is significantly lower.
One of the major concerns highlighting the report is the highest percentage of diagnostic issues. About 26 26.9 % of Pakistan’s diabetes – about 9.3 million people – are unaware that they have the disease. This silent burden increases the risk of severe complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, cutting and blindness, which further pressures the excessive pressure health system.
Diabetes is also a major cause of death in the country, with an annual estimate of about 230,000 deaths. In addition, IDF Atlas has warned of the increasing incidence of hyperglycemia in pregnancy in Pakistan, which now affects one out of five live births during pregnancy, which threatens both mothers and children of long -term health problems.
Although Pakistan is now ranked first in the world for the spread of diabetes, both the government and the private sector are actively working to reduce the burden of the disease, said Prof. Dr. Abdul -Asset, a renowned diabetes and secretary general of the Diabetes Association of Pakistan (DAP).
He said that in this regard, the government has launched a PC One 1 worth of Rs 6.8 billion to support the national screening and diagnostic program for adult Pakistanis to detect diabetes and its non -communication diseases in an early stage.
Professor Basit emphasized that the economic burden of diabetes can only be reduced by strengthening early screening, timely diagnosis, and basic health care. “Patients should be screening and treated at the basic care levels, and many strategies should be used, which includes promoting lifestyle medicines, reduction of sugar drinks consumption and ultra processed foods and numerous stakeholders,” he said.
He also pointed out that under the DAP -led efforts, four Pakistani organizations have now been officially recognized by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), which includes the Primary Care Diabetes Association, the Pakistan Endocrine Society, the Diabetes of the Diabetes, the Diabetes of the Diabetes, the Diabetes.
He also welcomed the election of Ms Arum Ghafoor as the first elected Vice President of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) from Pakistan, and called it an important achievement and a positive sign for the country across the country.
It is worth mentioning here that some private sector organizations are also operating projects, such as discovering diabetes, which is helping to identify unseen patients and connect them to diabetes care centers and clinics across the country.
