Better Healthcare for Diabetes and Stroke patients

New Delhi, July 8 (ANI): The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today approved the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) for implementation of its various components during the remaining period of 11th Five year plan.

It also approved the inter-usability of funds from one component to another within the same group of diseases, limited to a ceiling of ten per cent, in order to impart operational flexibility in implementation of these programs.

Transfer of funds from one component to the other beyond this limit would be decided by the Empowered Programme Committee (EPC) and Mission Steering Group (MSG). Approval has also been accorded for empowering the MSG and EPC setup under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) to approve financial norms in respect of all components of the Programme.

The programme will be implemented in 20,000 Sub-Centres and 700 Community Health Centres (CHCs) in 100 Districts across 15 States/UTs by promoting healthy lifestyle through massive health education and mass media efforts at country level, opportunistic screening of persons above the age of 30 years, establishment of Non Communicable Disease (NCD) clinics at CHC and district level, development of trained manpower and strengthening of tertiary level health facilities.

It is expected to screen over seven crore adult population (30 years and above) for diabetes and hypertension, early diagnosis of NCDs and treatment at early stages.

To fill the gap in the health delivery system, about 32,000 health personnel would be trained at various levels to provide opportunistic and targeted screening, diagnosis and management of NCDs.

With the successful implementation of the programme, it is expected to achieve behaviour change in the community to adopt healthy life styles including dietary patterns, enhanced physical activity and reduced intake of tobacco and alcohol resulting in overall reduction in the risk factors of common NCDs in the community. (ANI)