Diabetes treatment app launched

With a view to improving quality of treatment,  the country’s first government recognised diabetes treatment guideline was launched yesterday.

“Diabetes Care BADAS Guideline 2019” was prepared jointly by Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) and Non-Communicable Diseases Control Programme the of Directorate General of Health Services.

Additionally, to introduce digital approach in healthcare and empower physicians, an application-based treatment approach, “Diabetes Journey” was also launched on the same day. The app was launched jointly by BADAS and Novo Nordisk, based on the new diabetes treatment guideline. The guideline and application were launched at Dhaka Club, says a press release.

This guideline will help model and standardise the treatment outline of diabetic patients, said Professor Dr AK Azad Khan, president of BADAS.

The app will empower physicians to take effective treatment decisions, Dr Khan said.  BADAS aims to transform diabetes care in Bangladesh, said Md Sayef Uddin, general secretary of BADAS.  

Anand Shetty, managing director of Novo Nordisk, said the Diabetes Journey app and the country’s first national diabetes patients’ registry are examples of digitalisation in Bangladesh and aligned with the government’s vision for “Digital Bangladesh”, Shetty said.   

Danish Ambassador Winnie Estrup Petersen said addressing non-communicable diseases is one of the major steps to achieve sustainable development goals.  

Prof Dr Md Faruque Pathan of Birdem hospital; Dr Abdul Alim, assistant director at DGHS; Dr Bishwajit Bhowmik, coordinator, Centre for Global Health Research, BADAS; Dr Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, head of Medical and Quality of Novo Nordisk; and Md Tanbir Sajib, head of Commercial Affairs of Novo Nordisk, were present.