According to the Directorate General of Health (DGS), the price of diabetes drugs has risen by almost 50% in four years due to more cases being diagnosed and the prices of new drugs.
According to the National Diabetes Programme: Challenges and Strategies 2023, published on Tuesday, “there is a noticeable increase in the costs of medicines and devices for the treatment and monitoring of diabetes, as well as hospitalization costs” – 532.2 million euros. in 2021 versus 367 million in 2017.
In a document published on the occasion of World Diabetes Day this Tuesday, the DGS counts 2.76 million users “with a risk assessment for type 2 diabetes” and 8.4% of users (883,074 people) suffer from the disease.
In 2021, “diabetes caused 3,474 deaths, corresponding to 2.8% of deaths in Portugal,” and about 10% of these deaths were people under 70 years of age.
Despite this, “diabetes death rates have gradually declined since 2017, with the 2021 rate being the lowest in recent years,” the report said.
In 2021, the disease “also caused 2,770 potential years of life lost before age 70, with an average of 7.6 years of life lost for every death occurring before that age.”
The report emphasizes the need for timely screening for diabetic retinopathy, the damage to the retina caused by the disease, and presents a plan for the ward to improve these efforts.
“Promoting healthy lifestyles, identifying people at risk of developing diabetes and promoting prevention programs, as well as early diagnosis are measures that have a potential impact on reducing the incidence and morbidity associated with this disease,” you can also read – in the plan published in Tuesday.
Treatment of type 1 diabetes with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (PSCI) systems allows for “better glycemic control, with fewer complications and better quality of life.”
“Because of the clinical benefits, DGS “believes it is important to promote the adoption of new types of devices (automated insulin delivery systems and adhesive devices), thereby beginning to receive reimbursement from SNS under this PSCI treatment program.” .
According to the DGS, “these new types of devices offer benefits in controlling disease, reducing complications and increasing satisfaction and quality of life.”
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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