The government’s launch of the long-awaited national cancer plan is indeed positive and encouraging news. Such a plan is essential to hopefully tackle, on a national level, a dreadful disease which is also very predominant in Malta. The plan will focus on primary prevention aimed at reducing the incidence of cancer and ensuring early diagnosis to reduce mortality and minimise the impact of this condition on society.

However, I must appeal to the government and health authorities to seriously consider another equally important condition in the family of non-communicable diseases – diabetes, often referred to as the “silent killer”. According to the latest edition of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas (fourth edition), 55 million people aged between 20 and 79 live with diabetes in Europe. Unfortunately, the situation will not improve and it is estimated that by 2020 this number will increase by 20 per cent to 66 million people. This will mean a diabetes prevalence rate of 8.1 per cent of the adult population in Europe and a significant increase from the present rate of 6.9 per cent.

Malta is no exception to this diabetes “epidemic” and has a national prevalence rate of 10 per cent of the adult population. Around the world it is estimated that over 250 million people live with diabetes; every 10 seconds a person dies from diabetes-related causes while another two persons are diagnosed with the condition. These are alarming figures that show that diabetes is a serious long-term chronic condition that requires a serious and structured strategy.

A national diabetes plan would improve the quality of diabetes treatment and care ensuring that they are accessible, community based and adopt a patient centered approach.

The plan would ensure that doctors and nurses working in the field have ongoing professional development and specialised training for diabetes care.

A structured plan would reduce the personal, family and societal burden of diabetes.

The health authorities need to team up with all stakeholders – the Diabetes and Endocrine Centre at Mater Dei Hospital, the patient organisation (Maltese Diabetes Association) and our team of capable diabetologists – and work collectively and closely with them to embark on this very important programme for Malta.

This is an achievable mission and the huge advantages of such a programme would definitely outweigh the costs of devising and implementing it. The government expenditure in such a plan should be seen as a national investment to reduce the public and personal costs of diabetes.

I congratulate the government wholeheartedly on its initiative to launch the cancer plan. The health authorities now have a long-term vision on tackling this disease, backed up by a firm commitment from the government.

I appeal to the Ministry of Health to start working on a similar plan for diabetes. The International Diabetes Federation European Region (IDF Europe) will offer all the necessary support and expertise to ensure that an effective and structured plan is in place.