Healthcare | Monday 18 May, 2015 1:13 pm |

The Saudi Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SSEM) and the Saudi Diabetes & Endocrine Association (SDEA) signed an agreement for training, scientific cooperation and knowledge-based exchange with Joslin Diabetes Center which is one of the largest Diabetes centers worldwide, affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine at Harvard University, sponsored by AstraZeneca Company.

The agreement aims at providing optimal health care services through developing the application Joslin Center's model for diabetes Care in the United States and its application in the Kingdom. This model has decreased the economic cost to one third.

Dr. Eissa Al Thufairy, the Secretary General of Saudi Diabetes and Endocrine Association, explained that this step will reconsider the health care provided to patients in all health sectors which were previously dependent on treating the disease not the patient.

Dr. Kamel Salama, the Saudi Diabetes & Endocrine Association (SDEA), pointed out that the agreement stipulates that the curative and rehabilitative experience carried out by Joslin Center will be transferred through an integrated team including: a diabetes and endocrinology consultant, health educator, nutritionist, physical activity specialist, psychiatry, neurologist and ophthalmologist to work as one system to provide one ideal health care for the patient.

“The first step of this program is send more than 40 consultants for the treatment of diabetes in all governmental, specialized, military and National Guard health sectors and private hospitals in March and April to be acquainted with the model and trained on it. Afterwards, they can transfer their knowledge to their peers doctors in other specialties. There will also be a training given for the health educators and all the relevant medical staff in the program by inviting specialists from Joslin center to train 1500 medical and educational staffs.”
 
On the other hand, Dr. Mohamed Arafa, AstraZeneca’s General Manager, revealed that this step will be followed by assessing current medical services through the application of the program in several regions in the Kingdom. Then assessment of the evolution of health care and patients’ improvement by Joslin model will follow. The recommendations will be submitted to the Ministry of Health and hopefully applied in all health sectors.
Professor Enrique, Joslin Center’s representative assured that this step is a quantum leap in health care in terms of therapeutic and economic aspects. It will provide ideal health care for patients and accordingly will decrease many disease’s complications that may result from the financial costs, which is raised three times as a result of complications that affect the patient.