Novartis Pharma, a pharmaceutical company based in Switzerland, has introduced Galvus-Galvusmet, a new drug for the treatment of diabetes, and Exforge HCT for the treatment of hypertension onto the Ghanaian market.

The drugs are to help deal with the growing number of people in the society who are affected by the two major ailments.

Mr Roland Addo-Hammond, Branch Manager of Novartis Pharma, said the drug did not make users gain weight as was the case with many diabetes drugs on the market and each tablets cost only GH¢1.50.

He said Galvus which was already on the market, could effectively fight Type 2 diabetes which usually affected persons above 30 years and could be used alone as compared to other diabetic drugs which required combination of other drugs.

Mr Addo-Hammond said the company would work together with the Diabetic Association of Ghana in order to help make the drug easily accessible adding that “we will also embark on free medical screening exercises for the general public as part of our social responsibility.”

Dr Ben Eghan, Head of Diabetes Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, said a report released in 2011, showed that 366 million people in the world were suffering from diabetes and that “by 2030, the statistics would have increased to 552 million people with about 80 per cent of them living in low income countries.”

He appealed to diabetic patients to desist from alcohol intake, smoking and rather engage in physical activities to keep themselves fit.