Non-communicable, lifestyle diseases a challenge: Nadda

Union Health Minister J P Nadda today said the health sector in the country faces the challenges of unfinished task of controlling communicable, non-communicable and lifestyle diseases.
"We have made a definite progress in the health sector, but many things are still required to be done," Nadda said while addressing the 43rd Annual Conference of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicines.
"Given the size of our population, health being a state subject and literacy level in our country, we have made significant progress in the health sector," the minister said.
"We have done well under the National Health Mission, we have partially overcome the challenge of communicable diseases, but we still face three challenges, that are unfinished task of controlling communicable diseases, the challenge of non-communicable diseases and lifestyle diseases," he said.

Stressing on preventive health care, he said prevention is better then cure.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Swachh Bharat' programme is aimed at making India healthy.

On the issue of budget allocated to the health sector, the minister said the budget is not a constraint, but many states have not able to utilise the funds alloted to them.
"Budget is not a constraint, but more than money for health, I am concerned for health of money. Parts of health budget given to some states remain unspent. Or if we want to give money to rural health centre, medical officers are not present there to utilise it," Nadda said.

World Health Organisation's India representative Hank Bakedam said though India has done well in checking the communicable diseases, much needs to be done to achieve universal health care goals.
"The task of the health minister is very difficult if the top leadership is not committed to giving funds. The government should understand that investing in health is investing in economy," he said.
Gujarat Health Minister Nitin Patel, who was also present at the function, listed achievements of the state government during his speech.
Stating that modern technology must be leveraged for
promoting good health, Nadda also called for widening the user base of these applications by giving updated information.

Nadda also released guidelines for dialysis centres to be set up under PPP mode, saying that soon every district in the country will have the facility.
These expanded facilities will help the renal disorder patients and reduce the out-of-pocket expenditure incurred on dialysis, he said.
Nadda said a multi-sectoral approach is required to deal with diabetes as its causes are not majorly related to just the health sector.
"Diseases and health problems largely emanate not due to health sector issues but due to consequences of actions taken in other sectors. It is vital, therefore, to increase awareness and bring all stakeholders together for coordinated action," he said.

The Minister also stressed on the promotion of holistic approach to health through traditional systems of medicines like Homeopathy, Ayurveda and Yoga.
"Lifestyle diseases, in particular, can be prevented by Yoga and discipline. Ayurveda has many solutions for chronic ailments. These systems have their own strengths," he said.
The Minister also released WHO Global Report on Diabetes, a Technical Report for India and ICMR-India Diabetes Study Phase-I.