Diabetes Association asks Rahael for help

Outside of this, DATT’s executive plans to approach Health Minister John Rahael in the next three weeks with proposals to improve systems in the nation’s public health care system to treat persons with diabetes.

Speaking with Newsday after the launch of a new TSTT youth foundation at the Fernandes Industrial Estate in Laventille yesterday, DATT president Carlton Phillip said he believes that Government should consider subsidising the costs of diabetic medical treatment in TT and possibly see if this could be included as part of the 2005/2006 Budget which is tentatively scheduled to be presented by Prime Minister Patrick Manning in Parliament on September 5.

The ministries of health, education, national security, works and transport and science, technology and tertiary education are expected to receive significant financial allocations in the Budget.

Phillip noted that in Barbados, diabetics receive monitor-strips from the government at no cost. DATT vice-president Parbatee Siewdass (a registered nurse) agreed with Phillip and lamented that the nation’s public hospitals lack the variety of medication required to treat the various types of diabetes. "Every diabetic needs to test blood sugar at least once a day. The cost of monitors and strips is very expensive, 15 strips you can get for minimum of $200 at any pharmacy. We hope that the Ministry of Health can subsidise through the CDAP (Chronic Disease Assistance Programme) by having strips and monitors available to people suffering with diabetes," she said.

Siewdass added that "whatever is being offered in the CDAP is not adequate."

Siewdass also explained that because most diabetics use the public health system and the variety of medication for them is limited, the alternative is a reliance on pharmaceutical firms and pharmacies. She said through DATT’s intervention, diabetics have been able to receive their medication from pharmaceutical firms at a subsidised cost.

Both Phillip and Siewdass were supportive of Rahael’s advocacy of the promotion of healthy lifestyles since becoming Health Minister in November 2003.