European and Gulf partnership for post-graduate diabetes training with the support of the ministry of health enters fifth year

EASD-GGSD and Lilly announce 5th year of Postgraduate Course in Clinical Diabetes for healthcare professionals in the GCC

• 650 doctors and healthcare practitioners working in diabetes in the GCC benefit from postgraduate training 

Dubai - November 27, 2016:  In a region where the incidence of diabetes is one of the highest in the world and at a time when globally half of all with diabetes remain undiagnosed and many of those who are living with it are not optimally controlled, it is more important than ever that healthcare professionals clinically supporting people with diabetes remain at the cutting edge of best practices and latest research and data in diabetes diagnosis and management. 

The partnership between the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), the Gulf Group for the Study of Diabetes (GGSD) and pharmaceutical diabetes leader Eli Lilly & Company, held its fifth successive   annual Postgraduate Course in Clinical Diabetes at the JW Marriott Hotel in Dubai in the presence of the assistant undersecretary of the ministry of health for health policy and license sector, H.E. Dr Amir Al Amiri.  

Designed to boost scientific knowledge, enhance medical standards and ultimately provide the very best in healthcare delivery to patients, this year’s postgraduate training course marks a cumulative total reach of 650 doctors and other medical specialists working in the field from the GCC, positively impacting treatment for thousands of patients. 

The course incorporates interactive lectures, case presentations and workshops in which a faculty including senior endocrinologists from the EASD and GGSD share the latest findings in diabetes care and research with an expected 200 attending practitioners from across the region. 

Dr Abdullrazzaq Al Madani, Chairman of the GGSD and President of the Emirates Diabetes Society, explained the importance of the EASD-GGSD-Lilly partnership.  “This collaboration has helped many healthcare professionals increase their capabilities and knowledge to provide patients with not only the treatment they need but also a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment approach based on best practices and exchanged knowledge on what works best for patients.”

Diabetes places a huge burden on the healthcare systems around the world and its prevalence in the Middle East is higher than many other countries. Globally 415 million people have diabetes and it affects more than 35.4 million people in the MENA Region; by 2040 this is forecasted to rise to 72.1 million.

“Professional and Patient Education are complementary and the first pillars for tackling any disease and more importantly diabetes” said Dr Amir Al Amiri Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and License Sector in the UAE. “The ministry of health believes in the value and importance of the exchange of information between European and GCC experts on the latest successful practices and research data. For that reason, we encourage this collaboration between EASD and GGSD that is marking its fifth year”.

Prof Sean Dinneen, an international diabetes expert who heads EASD’s (Extra-European) Postgraduate Education Committee and has contributed actively to the elaboration of this cross border collaboration recognizes the significant increase in interest for this program since its inception in 2012. “The high number of attendees this year and diversity of profiles reflect the footprint that this collaboration is leaving each year for the medical community and ultimately people living with diabetes in the GCC”.  

“In line with its commitment to make life better to people living with diabetes since 1923, Lilly supports several public private partnerships and collaborations with the professional and patient associations. We know Diabetes is a complex disease.  Each person living with diabetes has unique needs and requires a personalized treatment approach; therefore expertise and data exchange among healthcare professionals who diagnose, treat and accompany people living with diabetes contribute to making life better to people living with diabetes” said Dan Staner , Managing Director of Lilly for the Middle East Region.  

Lilly also supports a European- Middle East partnership between the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) and the Arab Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ASPED) for better diabetes care to children and adolescents suffering from diabetes.