KARACHI, April 1: In order to ensure timely and adequate medical intervention for diabetic patients, a six-week refresher course for general physicians was launched at the Diabetic Clinic, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre, here on Monday.

The initiative has been taken to combat surge in the incidence of the disease registered among eight to 10 per cent of the local adult population.

While talking to APP, Prof Mashoor Alam Shah, the official in charge of the Diabetology Department and Diabetic Clinic, JPMC, said the fast rise in the prevalence of the disease and its complications had made it very important to develop a rapport between the local general physicians and tertiary hospitals.

“The idea is to improve and enhance diagnostic as well as management skills of GPs (general physicians) with a particular reference to diabetes.”

Prof Shah remarked that the physicians being the first line of health care providers in any community were being prepared to help identify and immediately refer diabetic cases falling in advance stages and reporting with complications.

Diabetes, besides being the commonest cause of renal failure in the country, also caused 50 per cent of all incidents of hypertension and 20 per cent of all cardiac ailments. “It is in this backdrop that a close liaison between GPs and specialised facilities has become extremely necessary,” Prof Shah said.