Govt to screen all above 30 for diabetes, hypertension

Starting in 2011-12, the central government is planning to screen the entire population above 30 years of age for non-communicable illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension in five years. All pregnant women, irrespective of age, will also be part of this exercise.

The ambitious plan is part of a national disease prevention programme being worked out, said Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. The project will be rolled out in 100 districts of the country during 2011-12, he said while inaugurating a three-day meeting titled ‘Partners for Health in Southeast Asia’, organized by the World Health Organisation here.

The government will also introduce cancer screening and treatment programmes at a national level, Azad said. He mentioned $25 million (Rs 112 crore) earmarked for chemotherapy for 10,000 poor cancer patients in 100 districts annually.

On India’s progress in handling HIV/AIDS, the minister said government intervention had brought down the number of patients afflicted from five million to 2.3 million. Against the Millennium Development Goal target of mortality reduction by 50 per cent by 2015, India has already achieved a 68 per cent reduction, the minister added.

The three-day conference, attended by delegates from 11 Southeast Asian countries, aims to build collaboration on healthcare partnerships. The conference is to come out with a ‘Delhi Declaration’, charting specific targets by partner countries on Friday.