NGO calls for integrated action against NCDs

Pitching for integrated action against non-communicable diseases, an NGO has come out with a 'blueprint' for state and private entities, allowing them to prioritise health conditions and take appropriate measures.
The action-oriented approach lists best practices and new measures to address problems arising of NCDs which contribute to 53 per cent of the total diseases in the country, resulting into 60 per cent of the total deaths, said The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, an international NGO citing a report.
According to PFCD chairman, Dr Kenneth E Thorpe, an integrated and evidence-based chronic disease management framework for NCDs is missing in India.

"This national blueprint is an attempt to shift the focus from an 'issue-stating' to the 'problem-solving' stage, and bring in a systematic approach to address the growing burden of NCDs in the country," said Dr Damodar Bachani, director professor, community medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College, and deputy commissioner (NCD) in the Ministry of Health.
Executive director, Centre for Chronic Disease Control, Dr Prabhakaran Dorairaj, said, "In our country, efforts to combat NCDs are largely unstructured and lack an integrated approach. This exercise is an attempt to draw a template towards an action-oriented approach, and help states prioritise the health conditions, and take appropriate measures."

"The key word here is 'partnership' as all of us need to work together. While the role of government is to develop appropriate multi-sectoral policies and establish surveillance and monitoring systems, the role of the private sector, both health and non-health, is critical for success," NAG member and professor, community medicine at AIIMS, Dr Anand Krishnan, said.