Question : Death due to Stroke

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that Stroke is the third leading cause of death in India and the sixth major cause of Disability Adjusted life Year (DALYs) and 87 percent being ischemic stroke;
(b) if so, the details there of;
(c) whether the Government aided policies and programmes, including public-private partnership (PPPs) are needed to effectively manage stroke, rehabilitate patients and alleviate the concerns of the patients and their caregivers and if so, the action taken in this regard;
(d) whether the incidences of stroke have doubled in the past five decades, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the initiative taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

a) & (b) Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had conducted a study “India State Level Disease Burden Initiative” and published its report in 2017. As per the study, stroke was the fifth leading cause of Disability Adjusted life Year (DALYs) and third leading cause of Non-Communicable Disease (NCDs) related death in India in 2016.
(c) Health is a state subject. The Department of Health & Family Welfare, however, provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), as part of National Health Mission (NHM), based on the proposals received from the States/UTs and subject to the resource envelope. Also, the financial support is provided for innovations, including public-private partnership (PPPs), to States/UTs, based on their proposals in Program Implementation Plans (PIPs) under NHM.

ICMR, under the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has initiated two projects in Dibrugarh and Tezpur in Assam, to develop novel stroke care pathways using Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU). The project at Tezpur is through a public-private partnership (PPPs). The stroke units have been set-up and physicians have been trained for diagnosing and managing Stroke.

(d) A study ‘The changing patterns of cardiovascular disease and their risk factors in the states of India: the Global burden of Disease Study 1990-2016’ was published in Lancet 2021 by ICMR. As per the study, the prevalence of stroke has more than doubled from 1990 to 2016.

(e) Health is a state subject. The Department of Health & Family Welfare, however, provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), as part of National Health Mission (NHM), based on the proposals received from the States/UTs and subject to the resource envelope. Stroke is an integral part of NPCDCS. The programme focusses on strengthening infrastructure, human resource development, health promotion & awareness generation for prevention, early diagnosis, management and referral to an appropriate level of healthcare facility for treatment of the given Non-Communicable Diseases, including Stroke.

Stroke is a multifactorial disease, the risk factors of which interalia, include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, alcohol, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet. Preventive aspect of stroke is being strengthened under Comprehensive Primary Health Care through Ayushman Bharat Health Wellness Centre scheme, by promotion of wellness activities and targeted communication at the community level. Other initiatives for increasing public awareness about Stroke and for promotion of healthy lifestyle include observation of World Stroke Day and use of print, electronic and social media for continued community awareness. In addition, NPCDCS gives financial support under NHM for awareness generation (IEC) activities to be undertaken by the States/UTs as per their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).