New govt programme to combat non-communicable diseases

The alarming increase of non-communicable diseases (NCD) in India has prompted the health ministry to launch a national programme to tackle it.

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters that a programme will be rolled out during the 12th Plan period starting 2012. It will cover all 640 districts.

The programme will focus on health promotion, prevention of exposure to risk factors, early diagnosis, treatment of NCDs and rehabilitation.

Mr. Azad also stressed the importance of dealing with rise in heart diseases, diabetes, chronic obstructive lung disease and cancer, which accounted for two-third of diseases in India.

The programme,he said, will help in the prevention and early diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation services.

The Health Minister also called for support of Ministry of Agriculture in promoting viable alternatives to tobacco as a commercial crop to control the consumption of tobacco.

Three out of every five deaths in 2008 were caused by NCDs like cancer, stroke, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. This growing number is caused by changing life style of Indians, according to World Health Organization (WHO).

According to WHO, NCDs cause 30% of deaths occurring before the age of 60. Deaths caused due to NCDs are set to rise to 44 million by 2020.

"The rise of chronic non-communicable diseases presents an enormous challenge," says WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan.

Dr Chan adds: "Chronic non-communicable diseases deliver a two-punch blow to development. They cause billions of dollars in losses of national income, and they push millions of people below the poverty line, each and every year."