THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)
(a) & (b) : According to the Report of National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health,
there were 380 lakh cases of Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVD) in the year 2005 and these are
estimated to rise to 641 lakh cases in the year 2015.
The exact reasons for high prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including hypertension
and heart diseases are not clear. However, urbanisation and longevity has been associated with
increase in NCDs. Unhealthy lifestyle is major reason for increase in NCDs including
hypertension and heart diseases. The four major risk factors which are directly or indirectly
associated with the causation of hypertension and heart diseases are as follows:-
(i) Tobacco use (smoking & chewing)
(ii) Alcohol use
(iii) Physical inactivity
(iv) Unhealthy diet.
(c) & (d): The Indian Council of Medical Research was supported by World Health Organisation
(WHO) to undertake a study on assessment of Burden of Non-Communicable diseases using secondary
data in 2003-04. The study utilized the existing prevalence / incidence estimates and employed
the Global Disease Burden methodology to arrive at disease burden indices of major
non-communicable disease including ischemic heart disease and risk factors i.e. tobacco use and
hypertension. According to this study, there were 22.4 million cases of IHD. The population
attributable risk associated with hypertension for IHD was 16%.
Under National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases
and Stroke (NPCDCS) started in 2010 in 100 Districts of 21 States, approximately 1.57 crore
persons have been screened as on 20th February, 2013, out of which 10.40 lakh (6.65%) population
are found suspected for Hypertension.
(e) : Under NPCDCS the focus is on awareness generation for behaviour and life-style changes,
early diagnosis of persons with high levels of risk factors and their referral to higher
facilities for appropriate management. It has also been envisaged to build capacity at various
levels of health care system for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of NCDs.
Under the programme every District is supported with Rs.50,000/- per month for essential drugs
for Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke. This is an addition to drugs which may be
made available through other Central and State programmes / schemes.
Awareness generation activities undertaken by the State Governments have also been supplemented
by the Ministry. In addition, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities through
Prasar Bharati under the `Swasth Bharat Programme` are also being carried out for various
non-communicable diseases.
