Venkaiah stresses on need for national movement against NCDs

Inaugurating a new 400-bed hospital MGM Health Care here, he said the Indian Medical Association must take the lead to promote awareness among the people, particularly school and college students on the health hazards caused by sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy dietary habits.

With non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart attacks accounting for huge spending by households, this problem could be surmounted to a large extent by ensuring Universal Health Coverage where every individual gets quality treatment without facing any financial hardship. This is also essential to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, he said.

“India’s need for healthcare has never been more acute. Although, we have made great strides as a nation in reducing infant and maternal mortality rates over the last five decades and in controlling the spread of diseases like HIV and TB, there is need to make concerted action to stop the growing incidence of NCDs,” he said.

Naidu said according to WHO data released in 2017, about 61 per cent of deaths in India were attributed to NCDs, including heart disorders, cancer and diabetes.

Stressing the need for establishing NCD clinics in both urban and rural areas, he said the private sector must play a prominent role in setting up such clinics. He also called upon the doctors in both public and private sectors to visit the nearest schools and conduct awareness campaigns on the need to maintain healthy lifestyle.

Despite the improved reach of healthcare delivery, the rural areas were lagging behind their urban counterparts and there was a huge disparity in the healthcare services provided between urban and rural areas, Naidu said.

This glaring gap between the urban and rural areas has to end and it is time for the private sector to expand its footprint to the villages and remote rural areas, he said and called upon the private sector to complement the efforts of the government in reaching modern healthcare facilities to the rural areas. Naidu suggested that Public Private Partnership could be the model to bridge the gap in providing technically advanced primary and secondary healthcare centers.