Ministry of Health Launches National Diabetes Care Plan

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is standardizing its care for diabetes patients across the country. Today, the ministry launched a three-year program that will see physicians across the country receive training on clinical guidelines that will be implemented. The ministry says the aim is to provide better quality care and improved access for diabetes patients.

 

Dr. Laura Friesen, Medical Officer, Ministry of Health and Wellness

“We are launching a three-year program to enhance the care of diabetes at the primary care level. We all know that diabetes is a big issue in our country. We have rising rates of diabetes and rising rates of complications. So, what we are doing is are implementing a pathway through the ministry and with the support of PAHO that will standardize this treatment across the board in the country of Belize so that we can provide a better quality of care and improved access to the population. Well this roll out will include clinical guidelines that are standardized. They will include some additional testing that is point of care testing that will be implemented at the clinical level to make it more accessible to the patient. And it will include training across the board at the physician level for the next three years. So this is going to be a long process. Today is just the beginning point for this process that will be for three years’ time.”