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Friday, March 29, 2024

Forum: Thyroid diseases must be included in list of non-communicable diseases

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It’s about time that thyroid diseases (TDs) should be included in the official list of non-communicable diseases in the Philippines. This was the resounding chorus of medical experts in a forum dubbed “Thyroid Disorders as Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)” held recently.

Being included in this list makes real sense.

“First, it will turn the spotlight on the prevalence of thyroid disorders in the Philippines and will bring about private funding and government support for its prevention and treatment,” says Dr. Teofilo San Luis Jr., Philippine National Coordinator for the Iodine Global Network.

According to the Philippine Department of Health, non-communicable diseases include cardiovascular conditions (hypertension, stroke), diabetes mellitus, lung/chronic respiratory diseases and a range of cancers which are the leading causes of death worldwide.

Another resource speaker at the forum, Dr. Leonidas Duntas, urged the medical community to expound on thyroid disorders as risk factors in other NCDs to increase the probability of elevating them in the list.

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The health condition of the thyroid glands greatly affects the functions of other vital organs, which sometimes lead to major NCDs like hypertension, diabetes and heart diseases. Iodine deficiency is usually the main cause of common thyroid disorders such as goiter, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Another widespread thyroid disease is thyroid cancer.

San Luis called on major stakeholders and medical societies in endocrinology to band together to form champions for thyroid diseases like what other groups are doing to popular diseases like diabetes, heart diseases and cancer.

These champions can be celebrities, influencers, and high-profile people who are willing to promote thyroid healthcare and TD prevention.

“We should raise our voices higher and get more attention in order for the government, the public, and the private sector to notice and support our thyroid disease advocacies,” he exhorted.

Efforts should also focus on massive education of the public about TDs said Dr. Jeremy Robles, moderator of the forum who also heads the initiatives of the Philippine Thyroid Association on thyroid diseases in the country.

As a parting message in the forum, Dr. Rosario Vergeire, now Department of Health Officer-In-Charge, called on the public and private sector to raise awareness on thyroid health and diseases, and to collaborate more with multi-specialty medical societies to create programs that would address TDs. 

Thyroid disorders are considered pervasive in the Philippines and are mostly consequences or intrinsically causes of other major illnesses such as diabetes, heart diseases, and other circulatory system disorders.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped organ located on the base of the neck which is responsible for a myriad of vital bodily functions such as breathing, heart rate, metabolism, among others. It basically releases hormones that manages metabolism and the body’s use of energy.

The forum was part of the International Thyroid Awareness Week (ITAW) which seeks to educate the public about the importance of thyroid in our lives and how important it is to people’s health.

The ITAW is celebrated yearly by the medical community through a series of seminars, forums and activities meant to promote thyroid health.

Merck Group, one of the oldest and biggest pharmaceutical companies in the World, is one of the major partners for ITAW.

“Our company has always been supportive of ITAW and other thyroid health advocacies not only in the Philippines but all over the world. Thyroid disorders and their treatment are very sensitive and this means it is imperative that patients get safe, highly effective and reliable care they can trust. This together with our efforts educating patients, is our strong commitment to helping them to understand and manage their condition effectively,” said Henry Wilson, President and Managing Director at Merck, Inc.

Merck is known to support fact-based, scientific education programs, and media forums like celebrating ITAW, while constantly improving their medicines and drugs.

Merck has a disease awareness page in Facebook called “Unmasking Your Thyroid” to educate the public about proper thyroid health care. You can reach them through their website at www.merckgroup.com.

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