Inspection: Kerala Health Minister visits IID for evaluating healthcare facilities

Kerala: Health Minister Veena George recently visited the Indian Institute of Diabetes (IID) and the Chest Diseases Hospital at Pulayanarkotta on Thursday to inspect the available healthcare facilities at the centre as the government had given the highest priority to upgrade the facilities there.

The Minister inspected the IID's modern facilities, including the Dexa Scan unit, laboratories, and podiatry department. During her visit, Kadakampally Surendran, a former minister and MLA from Kazhakuttam, accompanied her.

While she was at the hospital, she interacted with the staff members and patients. Later she also visited various wings and wards at the Chest Diseases Hospital.

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She discussed the findings of a study conducted by the IID, in association with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) at the national level, on diabetes and other lifestyle diseases. The study found that 24% of people aged above 18 years in the country suffered from diabetes.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr George noted the institution's role, saying "the government will work to implement improvements at the centre that operated in a 50-year-old building."

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She explained that the IID plays an important role at a time when lifestyle diseases are on the rise, and told TH that "the government intends to improve the facilities. The government has chalked out a programme aimed at detecting and bringing lifestyle diseases under check in the State."

The Indian Institute of Diabetes (IID) was established in 2001 based on the memorandum of understanding between the Government of Kerala and the World India Diabetes Foundation, USA. WIDF is promoted by eminent physicians in the USA. Over the years the Indian Institute of Diabetes has become a major institution in diabetes care in Kerala and the institute is the state nodal centre for the National Programme for the Prevention and Control of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and stroke.