Govt to launch screening programme for NCDs: Health secretary

The government will launch in April a universal screening programme for Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including diabetes and cancer, a top Health Ministry official said today.
"NCDs are now recognised by the government as a major health issue and figures as part of the National Health Mission.
"The Ministry will be starting a universal screening programme from April onwards covering five NCDs namely diabetes, hypertension, oral, cervical and breast cancers," Union Health secretary C K Mishra today said.
Mortality is more because detection is very low, he said at Salt Summit organised by GIGH and Arogya here.
Salt reduction in India requires a multi-stakeholder effort that can take into account the growing incidence of hypertension and cardiac diseases largely resulting from intake of sodium beyond the WHO recommended guidelines of 5 mg per day, George Institute for Global Health (GIGH) said.

Pointing out that India is one of the first countries to have developed an action plan for meeting the NCDs targets, GIGH said that one of them is 30 per cent relative reduction in mean population intake of salt or sodium.

Several studies carried out in developing countries, including India, have been reporting an increase in the prevalence of diet related chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like overweight and obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancers among others.
"Raised blood pressure is one of the leading risk factors for global mortality and is estimated to have caused 9.4 million deaths and 7 per cent of disease burden - as measured in DALYs - in 2010," said Vivekanand Jha, Executive Director, GIGH India.

The prevalence of raised blood pressure in India is around 26 percent and is considered to be a leading cause of death, stroke, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and chronic renal impairment.
"About 1 in 3 of all adult Indians have high blood pressure, by itself making it a major public health burden. Five out of the top 10 causes of deaths in India are now due to NCDs. What is more alarming is the inexorable rise in the contribution of NCDs to all deaths, presenting a challenge for health community," Jha added.
Nalini Saligram, CEO, Arogya world urged stakeholder group to initiate action and report back on progress made every year at the annual Salt Summits.

"We hope to showcase meaningful action from each stakeholder group in India against the important salt reduction target. Nothing less than the health of future generations in India is at stake," she added.