Hypertension and diabetes are major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and a steep rise in the prevalence of these risk factors explains the CVD epidemic world over.
According to WHO, Pakistan is one of the 10 countries in the world with the highest prevalence of diabetes and has one of the fastest increase in the number of diabetics. As for hypertension, one in three adults greater than 45 years of age in Pakistan has high blood pressure.
Despite continuous efforts for extension of healthcare facilities, the control rates are very low for both diabetes & hypertension. One major factor contributing to low control rates is non-compliance to multidrug therapy by the patients. The non-compliance can be improved by the use of fixed dose combinations as proven by several clinical trials.
Keeping in view the high incidence of uncontrolled hypertension& Diabetes in Pakistan, NEXT Pharmaceutical arranged a series of programs on the “Rationale for fixed dose combinations in the management of Diabetes & Hypertension”. These programs were attended by a large gathering of physicians, cardiologists & general practitioners of Pakistan.
The first program of this series was conducted in Faisalabad Serena hotel on June 14, 2011. Consultant Physician and Cardiologist, Prof. Dr. Tariq Waseem spoke at this occasion. He especially emphasized the benefits of combination therapy in hypertension.
The second program was held at June 28, 2011 in Hyderabad. The speakers at this occasion includes; Consultant Physician and Diabetologists, Prof. Dr. Mashoor Alam Shah while Professor and Chairman Department of Cardiology, LUMHS, Prof. Dr. Nazir Ahmed Memon chaired the session. The hypertension guidelines and fixed dose combination remained the highlights of the discussion.
One similar program was held in the city of Multan, on June 29, 2011, where Prof. Dr. Aftab Mohsin, Professor of Medicine & Country Head Hepatitis Program for Prevention & Control delivered a lecture with a particular focus on ABCD of Diabetes & use of combination therapy.
The program in PC, Rawalpindi on July 5, 2011 in which Prof. Dr. Aftab Moshin and Prof. Dr. Nusrat Ara Majid, Head of Cardiology/Medicine at RGH was the as guest speakers. Prof. Aftab Mohsin talked about diabetes and fixed dose combinations whereas Prof. Nusrat Ara put special emphasis on understanding the athergenesis & its complications in CVD.
The last session was held in PC, Peshawar, on July 15, 2011. Consultant endocrinologist & associate professor, Dr. A. H. Amir spoke on the paradigm shift in the management of diabetes while Professor of Ophthalmology, Dr. Zia ul Islam &Assistant Professor of Cardiology at LRH, Dr. Hikmat Ullah Jan chaired the session.
The queries of the audience at each program were answered by the speakers&the chairmen of the session. The marketing manager at NEXT, Mr. Tanveer Sadiq highlighted the key achievements of the company in corporate sector and gave an updated information about the under development projects. The product manager, Miss Rabea Ijaz introduced the newly launched products of the company.
The chairpersons appreciated NEXT Pharmaceutical for arranging such large scale programs for medical community.