A 'whole of society' approach will support Singapore's war on diabetes

FOOD Industry Asia (FIA) welcomes Health Minister Gan Kim Yong announcement in Parliament on April 13 of a war on diabetes and plans to set up of a task force made up of representatives from government agencies, the private sector, patient advocacy and caregiver groups.

Our association has always advocated a whole of society approach to tackle obesity and non-communicable disease (NCD), and it is encouraging to see the Government's forward thinking and inclusive approach to tackling this burgeoning crisis in Singapore.

The increasing rates of diabetes are not just limited to Singapore. In South-East Asia, experts warn that the rise in obesity rates is likely to put more individuals at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, which will have an impact on the health of the region's population, as well as its health systems. According to the WHO, between the years 2000 and 2030, the prevalence of diabetes is expected to more than double in the Asean Six - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - as obesity rates continue to rise.