In a Qatar National Reseach Fund study, the gulf state of Oman is facing a rapidly rising diabetes epidemic over the coming three decades. The number of people with diabetes will continue to grow, making it challenging to control if no major preventive interventions are implemented now.
It is feared that diabetes prevalence could reach one in every four Omanis by 2050 if no major intervention is implemented. The study suggested that nearly 70 percent of this rapid increase in diabetes is due to the high prevalence of obesity.
According to senior consultant at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Jawad Al Lawati: “Diabetes is already consuming 21 percent of Oman’s health expenditure and it is projected to consume nearly 30 percent of health expenditure by 2050.”
Advocacy Action: What is the estimate for health expenditure by 2050 in your country? Is there a national diabetes plan to reduce the prevalence of diabetes and thus costs?