DOHA: The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), a global initiative of Qatar Foundation (QF) has partnered with Parliamentarians for Diabetes Global Network, an advocacy programme of International Diabetes Federation (IDF), to present its diabetes report to parliamentarians in Australia and elevate the debate on the disease on the national policy agenda.
WISH inspires and diffuses healthcare innovation and best practice, remaining aligned with QF’s vision and mission to unlock human potential and underscore Qatar’s role as an emerging centre for healthcare innovation.
The rise in diabetes around the globe is one of the greatest health catastrophes. With 382 million people affected by the condition, which causes heart disease, stroke, blindness and death, it imposes an immense burden on health systems and national economies and absorbs 11 percent of global health spending (about QR2.2trn).
According to IDF, between 2013 and 2035, countries with the highest growth in diabetes prevalence will be the UAE, Oman and Qatar and rates in the Middle East and North Africa will increase by 96.2 percent by 2035.
The WISH report ‘Rising To The Challenge: Preventing and Managing Type 2 Diabetes’ says Type 2 diabetes is to affect an estimated 10 percent of the world’s adult population (nearly 600 million) by 2035 and calls on policymakers to prevent the alarming rise in prevalence rates.
The report was distributed to MPs in Australia to raise the profile of the condition and inspire stakeholders to action.
Ken Wyatt, Chair, Parliamentary Diabetes Support Group, said, “Diabetes is fast becoming a worldwide epidemic and it is our role to raise awareness about its seriousness, promote prevention and early detection and advocate ways to improve care, support and management of diabetes. The WISH report puts a spotlight on this illness and we are delighted to be working with WISH to help stem the tide of diabetes in Australia and beyond.”
The report was published by WISH Diabetes Research Forum, chaired by Stephen Colagiuri, Professor of Metabolic Health and Director of Boden Institute, University of Sydney, at the second WISH summit in February in Qatar. The summit brought together over 1,200 healthcare leaders and policymakers from 90 countries. The Peninsula
