Recognising that diabetic retinopathy is likely to pose a public health challenge in India coupled with the associated complications of diabetes, the first of its kind “Certificate Course in Evidence Based Management of Diabetic Retinopathy (CCDR Cycle I)” was announced in Guwahati.

The course is a unique 4 months executive on the job PAN-India programme that aims to build capacity amongst primary care physicians to address management, counselling, referral and prevention of diabetic retinopathy. The course further aims to develop a standard teaching protocol and module for evidence based learning on diabetic retinopathy, update practicing/primary care physicians with the latest advancements in the field of diabetic retinopathy and ultimately build a network of primary care physicians and specialists in the field of diabetes and retinopathy.

It is designed, delivered and implemented by Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), along with academic partners Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Education Academy (DMDEA), Chennai; Aravind Eye Care System, Madurai and supported by an educational grant from The Queen Elizabeth Diamond  Jubilee Trust (QEDJT) with funding from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. The QEDJT was set up on the recommendation of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Australia in 2011 (CHOGM) and therefore the onus of responsibility is on all member countries of the Commonwealth.

The four modular course (February 2016 – May 2016) spreads across 8 states, I Union Territory and 10 cities in 10 regional training centres across India with designated two regional faculty (1 diabetologist or endocrinologist and 1 retina specialist) at each centre.

Diabetic retinopathy, one of the foremost causes of blindness world-wide, is a neurovascular disorder that affects minute blood vessels of the retina and eventually causes painless loss of vision and blindness. Diabetic retinopathy accounts for 3 per cent of blindness in India. It is now among the most important causes of visual loss during the productive years of life. Diabetic retinopathy occurs both in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and studies have shown that nearly all type 1 and up to 80 per cent of type 2 diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy after 15 years duration of diabetes.

Present on the occasion to launch the Certificate Course in Evidence Based Management of Diabetic Retinopathy (CCDR) Cycle-I was Dr. Umesh Chandra Sarma, vice chancellor of Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences, Guwahati, Dr. A.C. Kataki, director, BBCI, Guwahati, Dr. Dipali Deka, director, RIO, Guwahati along with Dr. Sandeep Bhalla, director, CCDR, Public Health Foundation of India, Delhi, Manoj Joshi, senior programme coordinator, CCDR, Public Health Foundation of India, Delhi, regional faculty - Dr. B. B. Kukreja and Dr. Harsha Bhattacharjee from Guwahati along with leading primary care physicians and distinguished guests from Guwahati region.

Announcing the first cycle of the diabetic retinopathy course, Prof GVS Murthy, director, Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad, PHFI and principle investigator, CCDR course said, “The increasing incidence of diabetic blindness is a major public health concern hence there is an urgent need to address this ever increasing health hazard. To manage, treat and to prevent the complications of diabetic retinopathy we need a trained set of doctors who are equipped with the latest technology, and follow the cutting-edge international and national guidelines. Our endeavour is to help strengthen education, training, and research in the area of public health. The announcement of the 1st cycle of diabetic retinopathy course is a step further to tackle the rising prevalence of diabetes and its related complications, aiming to strengthen the capacity of primary care doctors to deal with the enormous challenges that diabetic retinopathy poses, with the ultimate aim of improving the health outcomes of people.”

Prof D. Prabhakaran, vice president – research, PHFI and Co-PI, CCDR Cycle I, PHFI said, “Given that early diagnosis and treatment remain the cornerstone of management of diabetic retinopathy, there is an urgent need to build capacity in early identification and management of diabetic retinopathy. This course is a well-designed compendium that provides practical and simple tips for disease detection and management for primary care doctors. In addition it also improve the knowledge on recent advances in diabetic retinopathy.”