Indus Hospital to support diabetes care expansion plan across Pakistan


In collaboration with Health Promotion Foundation, IHHN to help establish 3,000 free clinics for underserved communities

IV Report

KARACHI: The Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) has partnered with the Health Promotion Foundation (HPF) to establish 3,000 dedicated diabetes care units across Pakistan, with a special focus on providing free consultations and high-quality care to vulnerable populations.

The announcement was made during a diabetes awareness session organised for media professionals at the IHHN facility in Korangi on July 15. The session, attended by IHHN President Dr Abdul Bari Khan and other senior executives, marked the first in a planned quarterly series titled “Dialogue with Media” under the broader “With HealthWise” initiative.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Abdul Bari said the initiative aims to empower journalists with accurate and evidence-based information to influence public attitudes and behaviors regarding diabetes.

“With the HealthWise series, we hope to equip media personnel with the tools and knowledge to become change agents in the community,” he stated.

Participants at the session expressed serious concern over the growing prevalence of diabetes in Pakistan and its widespread impact on individuals, families, and the country’s economic and social development. They stressed the urgent need for a national diabetes registry and called on the government to take a proactive role in developing comprehensive prevention, screening, and care strategies.

Leading the technical discussion was renowned diabetologist Prof Abdul Basit, who recently joined IHHN as Director of the newly established Indus Diabetes and Endocrinology Centre (IDEC). Sharing data and clinical insights, Prof Basit noted that over 33 million people in Pakistan are living with diabetes, and 30 to 40 percent of them also suffer from depression or psychological stress.

“People with diabetes are two to three times more likely to suffer from depression than the general population,” he warned, underscoring the dire shortage of trained mental health professionals in the country.
“We must integrate mental health into chronic disease care — and we must do it now.”

Elaborating on the new collaboration, Prof Basit explained that HPF was founded in 2023 by a group of like-minded individuals committed to improving diabetes care in Pakistan.

“IHHN’s collaboration with HPF aims to establish 3,000 charity clinics dedicated to diabetes management. These units will particularly target underserved rural and semi-urban communities,” he said.

He added that the joint effort will combine resources and expertise to scale up effective primary prevention, build capacity through healthcare worker training, and launch wide-reaching awareness campaigns around diabetes prevention, early detection, and healthy lifestyle choices.

“Together, IHHN and HPF are committed to ensuring not just sustained access to diabetes care, but a lasting impact in curbing the disease burden in Pakistan.”

Also speaking at the event, Dr Kamran Siddiqi of Hull York Medical School, University of York (UK), termed depression among people with diabetes a growing public health concern in Pakistan. He emphasised the importance of supporting patients' emotional well-being alongside medical treatment.

“There are innovative, practical ways to rapidly scale up mental health support across the healthcare system, without relying solely on scarce mental health professionals,” he noted.

IHHN CEO Prof Syed Zafar Zaidi reaffirmed the network’s broader vision, stating that IHHN remains committed not only to providing free-of-cost healthcare but also to advancing expert-led public education to reshape health narratives across the country. 


Photos courtesy: IHHN

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

KU syndicate takes decisions on appointments, terminations

KU syndicate greenlights SHEC building on campus, despite reservations

University of Karachi syndicate meeting mired in controversy