The government has increased the scope of the NCD prevention and control plan in response to the growing burden of noncommunicable illnesses, associated morbidities, and mortalities
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for the majority of out-of-pocket health-care spending, and the economic output lost as a result of them, excluding mental illnesses, is predicted to be US$ 3.55 trillion for the country from 2012 to 2030, according to the government on Wednesday.
In response to the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases, associated morbidities, and mortalities, the government has expanded the scope of the NCD prevention and control programme to include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, chronic kidney disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The National Programme for the Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS) has been renamed the National Programme for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NP-NCD), according to the government.
According to the World Health Organization's NCD-India profile for 2018, NCDs are estimated to account for 63% of all deaths in the country, with cardiovascular diseases accounting for 27% of overall mortality, followed by chronic respiratory diseases (11%), cancers (9%), diabetes (3%), and others (13%).
In the revised operational guidelines for the NP-NCD, released on Wednesday, the government also said, “Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for maximum out-of-pocket expenditure on health, and economic output lost due to them, excluding mental conditions, is estimated to be USD 3.55 trillion for the country for 2012-2030.” The document of the Union health ministry that focuses on comprehensive primary health care stated that “comprehensive primary health care (CPHC) has an important role in the primary and secondary prevention of several disease conditions, including NCDs which today contribute to 63 per cent of the mortality in India”.
According to the report, providing basic health care reduces morbidity, disability, and mortality at substantially lower costs while also reducing the demand for further and tertiary care.
The document notes that the government established the Ayushman Bharat scheme in 2018 as a step towards ensuring the promotive, preventative, curative, palliative, and rehabilitative aspects of universal healthcare.
To guarantee universal health coverage, it comprises two components: Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres and Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
Through collaboration with both the public and private sectors, this assures CPHC at the primary level and financial security for access to curative care at the secondary and tertiary levels. The NP-NCD operational guidelines were developed for policymakers at various levels, government officials, NGOs, peripheral health care providers, and other stakeholders to provide an understanding of the promotive, preventive, and curative approaches to reducing morbidity and mortality due to NCDs.
According to the National Cancer Registry Programme (2020) report, the incidence of cancer in India is 13.92 lakhs, and among males, malignancies of the lung, mouth, esophagus, and stomach are the main sites across most registries. Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women, followed by cervical cancer.
The publication gives recommendations to programme managers on how to effectively implement NCD strategies in order to significantly improve several NCD indicators over the next seven years, by 2030. The guidelines have been distributed to states and union territories for adoption in order to improve NCD health care services at all levels of care and to enable a continuum of care approach.