Duque downplays rise in diabetes cases, says doctor’s ‘epidemic’ claim may be ‘figure of speech’
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 12 Sep 2019 10:05:09 +0000
HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd downplayed a doctor’s claim that the continued rise of diabetic cases in the country may be considered an epidemic, saying he could have meant it as a “figure of speech” like of “epidemic proportion.”
Duque admitted, however, in an interview over radio dzMM, that there was a rise in the number of cases of diabetes, which was the 6th leading cause of death among Filipinos based on the 2013 Philippine Health Statistics data.
The Philippine Center for Diabetes Education Foundation has recorded over six million cases since 2016.
Dr. Joeven Cuanang, a member of the board of trustees of the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, raised the alarm earlier this week. EVA CASALJAY