New Delhi, December 12 (LatestNewsX) – Experts convened in the capital on Friday underscored that gender equity and active local involvement are key to tackling the surge of non‑communicable diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure in India. NCDs – encompassing cancer, heart disease, chronic lung conditions and obesity – account for 65 % of all deaths in the country.
Dr. Thomas Keppen, Deputy Director for Nagaland’s Department of Health and Family Welfare, highlighted how community engagement has driven better infrastructure, service delivery and health awareness even in the most remote areas. He added that giving local leaders and women a voice in planning and monitoring builds ownership and sustainable change. Keppen urged a stronger focus on community‑based models and regular documentation of progress to enhance transparency and sustainability.
The Evidence2Policy dialogue, organised by The George Institute for Global Health, India, served as a platform to discuss closing the “know‑do gap” in translating public‑health policy into real‑world action.
Dr. Sumit Malhotra, Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine, AIIMS, noted that equity in NCD care must reach everyone – women, men and all community sectors. He explained that while closer health access encourages women to seek care, strategies are needed to actively involve men as well. Malhotra emphasised the importance of bolstering community health workers, ensuring steady medicine supplies and tightening links across care levels to make the system fairer and more responsive.
Health officials also pressed the need for data‑driven decision making, equity‑focused health policies and stronger health systems to guarantee universal access without causing financial strain.
At the national level, the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non‑Communicable Diseases (NP‑NCD), part of the National Health Mission and the Community‑Based Primary Health Care framework, is conducting wide‑scale population‑based prevention, control and screening. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, outlined the programme’s progress in Parliament, citing that by November 30, screenings numbered 39.79 cr for hypertension, 39.60 cr for diabetes, 33.57 cr for oral cancer and 15.72 cr for breast cancer across all health facilities – information sourced from the NP‑NCD portal.
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