Pakistan has launched the National Diabetes Network (NDN), a nationwide initiative comprising 3,000 diabetes clinics, aiming to offer free consultations to 75,000 patients daily. The network, supported by the Health Promotion Foundation in collaboration with Meri Sehat and Getz Pharma, will particularly benefit have underserved areas across the country. Prof. Abdul Basit, Vice Chairman of the Health Promotion Foundation, made the announcement at the NADEP Footcon 2024 event, noting that NDN will become the world’s largest free healthcare network launched by the private sector.
Each clinic will provide free consultations for 25 diabetes patients daily, with medications available at a 50% discount and lab tests at a 25% discount through a partnership with Chughtai Lab. Prof. Basit also highlighted the critical need for the initiative, citing that around 35-40 people in Pakistan lose their lower limbs daily due to diabetes complications. Without intervention, 600,000 individuals could face amputations by year’s end. Khalid Mahmood, Managing Director of Getz Pharma, underscored the country’s poor health indicators and the high diabetes prevalence, while Babar Rashid, CEO of Meri Sehat, introduced innovative technology to improve diabetes care and management across the network.
