Short Course on Thyroid Disease (SCTD)

Thyroid disorders are the second most common among all the endocrine diseases worldwide which affects an estimated 200 million people worldwide. Around 40% of the world’s population (1.6 billion people) are at risk of iodine deficiency. Large observational studies estimate that additional 10% population have undiagnosed thyroid problems. Thyroid disorders in the form of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, nodular disease, and thyroid cancer are highly prevalent in Bangladesh. About one-third of the hypothyroid subjects remain undiagnosed and are unaware of the condition. Moreover, thyroid disorders are also increasingly associated with a greater risk of developing other conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, renal disease, obstetric problem, infertility, neuronal problems as well as depression and anxiety disorder. Diagnostic delay in the thyroid disorders is common and related to the lack of awareness amongst primary care practitioners, who are a key part of the health workforce. In addition to this, there are several issues that arise when it comes to the management of the thyroid disorders such as lack of availability of doctors (very low doctor to population ratio), concentration of specialists in urban areas and lack of adequate training in management of thyroid disorders at graduate level (MBBS). Even other specialized may not have modern diagnostic and management knowledge of thyroid disorders.
Keeping this in view, Non-communicable Disease Department of Bangladesh University of Health Sciences launched the “Short Course on Thyroid Disease” (SCTD) for Physicians in collaboration with Bangladesh Diabetic Samity, Bangladesh Thyroid Society. Primary objective is to enhance knowledge and skills of medical doctors in the management of thyroid disorders.