Over 200 million insulin delivery devices are generated in India each year; most disposed off in unsafe circumstances.
India CSR News Network
MUMBAI: Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai has joined the nationwide ‘Go Green Stay FIT Campaign’ with leading medical technology company BD, pledging to promote highest patient safety standards in diabetes management, including safe injection practices and safe disposal of insulin syringes and needles.
The ‘Go Green Stay FIT Campaign’ that was initiated in January this year by the Forum for Injection Technique (FIT), with active support from BD India, has also created a World Record by generating 5391 pledges by healthcare professionals who vowed to adhere to the best practices in diabetes management and safe waste disposal.
Healthcare professional training and education
Kokilaben Dirubhai Ambani (KDA) Hospital and BD India plan to collaborate on solutions to achieve and sustain high quality and consistency of patient care throughout the insulin injecting continuum within the hospital. The program is focused on customized healthcare professional training and education directed at upgrading insulin injecting practices to highest safety standards. The objective is to help patients initiating insulin achieve improved clinical outcomes with a more comfortable injection experience.
Cause of safe insulin injection practice
“BD has been working towards advancing the world of health through innovative products and educational services that bring improved efficacy, comfort and convenience to diabetes drug therapy; and help improve patient compliance and enhance outcomes to manage diabetes. Supporting FIT India and GO GREEN STAY FIT campaign has been a step forward to support the cause of safe insulin injection practice for the users, their care-givers and the community at large,” said Vishal Taneja, Business Director, BD Medical-Diabetes Care.
Need of education and training of care providers;
As a part of the initiative, eminent experts came together to promote the green recommendations on injection techniques laid out by FIT earlier this year.
Highlighting the need to adopt and promote safe practices, the experts discussed issues of injection and infusion technique; correct needle length for all ages and body types; need for education and training of care providers; and safety and prevention of sharp injuries to healthcare workers.
Safe disposal of diabetes related waste
“The FITTER & FIT campaign backed by BD has brought about a paradigm shift in the insulin injection techniques for diabetes patients. The need for patient safety and comfort has always been at the centre of all our medical practices. We are proud to be associated with GO GREEN STAY FIT campaign that aims to improve patient experience and clinical outcomes by upgrading diabetes management and insulin injection techniques. Safe injection practices and safe disposal of diabetes related waste are crucial interventions to improve the lives of people living with diabetes and care-givers and we are committed to play an active role in supporting these practices,” said Dr. Santosh Shetty, Executive Director & COO, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Mumbai.
Encourage adoption of simple practices
Dr. Hemraj B. Chandalia, Director, Dept. of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, who is also an FIT Advisory member said, “Under the Green Diabetology program, we will be propagating safe disposal of insulin syringes and pen needles, prevention of reuse and education against re-capping insulin injecting devices to prevent accidental needle-stick injury. We will encourage adoption of simple practices that will facilitate optimal recycling and usage of insulin-related waste material while providing a source for revenue generation as well”.
Biomedical diabetes care–related wastes need to recycled
As per the FIT2.0 India recommendations adopted this year, biomedical diabetes care–related wastes need to recycled, not reused to prevent spread of infections and needle injuries among waste handlers and end-users,and promote conservation and efficiency. Apart from safe disposal, the recommendations include detailed guidelines on appropriate injection technique, correct length of needles, and need for rotation of injection site.
Improper use, or reuse, of injection devicesmay lead to undesirable consequences including pain with bleeding and bruising, breaking off and lodging under the skin, contamination, dosage inaccuracy and complications such as lipohypertrophy.
Why the Need for Green Diabetes Management?
- Over 200 million insulin delivery devices are generated in India each year; most disposed off in unsafe circumstances.
- 9.6 crore vials, cartridges and prefills are consumed every year, adding to the burden of glass and plastic on the environment.
- Net amount of plastic generated from insulin syringes alone, each year is 600,000 kg; apart from plastic generated from more than 40 million pen needles.
(Updated on August 16, 2022)
