Limiting trans-fats essential step towards achieving universal health coverage

Islamabad:On Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, the collaborators of the Transform Pakistan campaign emphasising the correlation between the intake of industrially produced trans fatty acids (iTFA) and the prevalence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's and other chronic health issues.

Pakistan is presently facing a troubling upswing in health challenges, with one in three adult Pakistanis living with diabetes. 

The country holds the highest global ranking in the prevalence of diabetes, ultimately making it the major killer of Pakistanis along with heart disease and stroke. Available data from Pakistan indicates that unhealthy diets, characterised by excessive sugar and salt intake, and the consumption of iTFAs play a substantial role in contributing to the epidemic of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other health problems in the nation. In turn, the hazards of trans fats are not merely an isolated health concern but are intricately linked to the broader narrative of achieving universal health coverage.

"Industrially produced trans fats have become ubiquitous in the processed foods that fill our grocery store shelves, and pose a significant threat to cardiovascular health," said Dr. Saba of Heartfile.

Earlier this year, with the support of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNH­SR&C), and in collaboration with other civil society organisations such as the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI), and Heartfile, Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA) initiated the Transform Pakistan campaign. "Within the framework of the Transform Pakistan campaign, we are urging the government to adopt best-practice policies, including enforcing a mandatory limit of 2 grams of industrially produced TFAs in every 100 grams of fat present in all food items throughout Pakistan," shared Afshar Iqbal, Director Communications and Advocacy at PYCA.

Mukhtar Ahmed, Executive Director of CPDI, highlighted the current progress regarding iTFA regulations in Pakistan, stating, "Earlier this year, the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) with the support of MoNHSR&C updated standards for various food items like banaspati ghee, cooking oils, and bakery goods such as biscuits and rusks. However, many food items like chocolates, desserts, noodles/pasta, ice-creams, other ultra-processed foods, and several commonly consumed street foods have yet not been covered by iTFA limits, posing a considerable threat to the health of our nation."

Government-mandated regulation on the prevalence of iTFAs can go a long way in supporting the goal of UHC as the reduction of trans fats in dietary sources would help significantly reduce Pakistan's current burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and is in line with UHC objectives. “Regulating iTFAs reflects an evidence-based approach to healthcare that emphasises prevention of diseases and health promotion,” stated Munawar Hussain, In-country Coordinator for GHAI.

Expressing support for the Transform Pakistan campaign, Dr. Khawaja Masuood Ahmed, National Coordinator, Nutrition & National Fortification Alliance at MoNHSR&C said, "The Ministry of National Health Services is fully committed to the mandatory regulation of trans-fats across all dietary sources. We have already made some progress in this regard and are hopeful that the unregulated food items will also soon be aligned with the WHO-recommended limit of 2% trans fats per 100 grams of fat in all foods."