PESHAWAR: Health experts here have expressed concern over surge in the number of diabetic patients in the country and demanded of the government to enact Health Contribution Bill to protect people from the ailment by discouraging consumption of sugary drinks.

“Pakistan should announce diabetes emergency as the number of patients has increased to 33 million. Cardiovascular sicknesses are the main cause of deaths in the country,” Sanaullah Ghuman, general secretary of Pakistan National Heart Association (Panah), told a media seminar held at a local hotel here on Thursday.

The event was organised by Panah on the health risks of sugar sweetened beverages and the need to increase taxes and surcharges on them, according to a press release.

Mr Ghuman said his organisation had always strived to keep the people, especially children, healthy so they could play their part in the development of the country.

“But all this is not possible without a healthy life,” he said and added that excessive consumption of sugary drinks was a major cause of obesity, diabetes and heart, stomach, liver and other diseases.

He said that raising of taxes by FBR on sugary drinks would be a positive strategy to reduce their consumption.

Diabetes Association of Pakistan general secretary Prof Dr Abdul Basit said the number of diabetes cases in Pakistan was registering a sharp increase.

The prevalence of diabetes has also increased in the young population. According to the International Diabetes Federation, Pakistan ranked fourth among the countries with the highest number of diabetic patients.

In last two years, the number of diabetic patients in Pakistan had risen from 19.4 million to 33 million.

Dr Basit said excess blood glucose due to diabetes damaged the blood vessels, which was one of the major causes of neurological complications.

It damages the blood vessels in the brain and eyes and weakens memory and vision, he said.

“We have to understand that sugary drinks have a devastating impact on our health,” he added.

Munawar Hussain, consultant Food Policy Programme at Global Health Advocacy Incubator, said obesity was increasing at alarming rate in Pakistan, which was a major contributor to heart disease, diabetes, etc.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2021