Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University vice-chancellor K Narayanasamy on Friday said non-communicable diseases were increasing at an alarming rate and their long-term consequences would affect the people’s health as well as their finances.
He was speaking at the inaugural function of the second edition of the international conference on Indian Rural Public Health and Non-Communicable Diseases. The event was organized by Koval Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH) here on Friday.
The conference discussed the challenges posed by non-communicable diseases and their prevention and control in rural India.
“The existing health system needs to be improved by addressing key issues regarding non-communicable diseases. Evidence-based measures need to be explored to strengthen the health system to control non-communicable diseases,” Narayanasamy said.
Attributing the increase in non-communicable diseases to lack of awareness and lifestyle changes, he said periodical and epidemiological screening programmes should be conducted to promote a healthy lifestyle in the urban and rural areas. Pointing out that Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, one of the non-communicable diseases, was caused by obesity, diabetes and hypertension, he said awareness and early diagnosis were important to prevent the same.
J Amalorpavanathan, member, state planning commission, who was the guest of honour, said, “While communicable diseases are on the decline, non-communicable diseases are striking hard. According to a Lancet report that appeared in the Economic Times, the world is going to see doubling of diabetes cases by 2050 from 53 million to 1.3 billion.
Now, one in 10 patients has access to diabetic medicines in the world. While we can do sophisticated surgeries, we are not able to deliver diabetic drugs to the people who need them. Poor people will suffer more.” He said the focus should not be just on diagnosing the diseases, but on dealing with them properly through research, policy making and implementation of schemes. He said the active participation of the public and the government was needed to curb non-communicable diseases in Tamil Nadu.
Nalla G. Palaniswami, chairman and managing director of KMCH, said the non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, liver diseases, cancer and respiratory diseases, were prevalent in rural areas, contrary to the popular belief that rural people were immune to them. “The rural population faces unique health disparities and challenges that require a tailored approach and targeted interventions.”