Health Minister Gan Kim Yong declares war on diabetes

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong has declared a ‘war on diabetes’, citing a Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health study which estimated the total economic burden of diabetes for working aged adults in Singapore at more than a billion dollars a year. Of the more than 400,000 diabetics today, one in three do not even know they have the disease, and of those who know, one in three have poor control, added Minister Gan.

“The long-term cost of diabetes, taking into account the psychosocial costs, is much more than this. We need to tackle the diabetes challenge. Therefore, I am declaring war on diabetes,” Minister Gan said. “The war on diabetes will not be a quick battle, but a long war requiring sustained effort.”

The Ministry of Health will set up a new Diabetes Prevention and Care Taskforce, co-chaired by Minister Gan and Acting Education Minister Ng Chee Meng.

Media Coverage:

Related articles: