Consumer VOICE calls for nationwide action for GoI action to stem HTN epidemic by 2025
June 2, 2023
Consumer VOICE sees that the ministry of health’s recent announcement to screen and place 75 million people with hypertension or diabetes on standard care by 2025, although ambitious, is the need of the hour.
At a recently concluded roundtable organized by Consumer VOICE, a New Delhi-based consumer organization, senior MPs, top doctors leading medical institutions among others emphasized that multi-stakeholder and mission-mode action will be required to meet this critical health goal in the next two years.
Acknowledging the role of community health workers, Lt.Gen.(Retd) Dr. DP Vats said that “To improve India’s healthcare system primary field-level frontline workers, community health workers and nurses are crucial for delivering high-quality community-based services, especially for hypertension and other non-communicable-diseases.”
Doctors present at the event were Dr Yogesh Bahurupi (Associate Professor, Department of Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS Rishikesh), Dr Aparna Jaswal, (Director, Dept of Cardiology of Fortis Escorts Hospital) and Dr Archisman Mohapatra, (Executive Director, Grid Council) – raised alarm that hypertension is one of the top killers in India.
Dr Aparna Jaswal, director, Dept of Cardiology, Fortis Escorts Hospital, said that “High blood pressure is the leading cause for premature deaths among young adults worldwide and in India. We have to start screening our young population as soon as they turn 18 or even earlier. Regular monitoring of BP and adherence to treatment and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are key to keep hypertension under control.”
Ashim Sanyal, CEO, Consumer VOICE stated, “We have made it our mission to work with people, spread awareness and ensure that more and more people are screening their BP regularly and if diagnosed as hypertension, staying on treatment. To that end, we plan to hold awareness meetings with the community in multiple states who have a high burden. Prioritizing NCD is a timely measure, but it has to be strongly supplemented with population-based services aimed at health promotion and action on social determinants of health along with individual services.”
Dr Archisman Mohapatra, GRID Council, said that “Uninterrupted supply and availability of hypertension protocol medicines can significantly help in scaling up hypertension control and reduce morbidities like heart attack, stroke and organ damage. If patients with hypertension have access to continuous supply of medicines, then their blood pressure is maintained regularly, and adverse consequences are averted. The need for regular screening and follow-up for those at risk of hypertension along with adequate counselling should be further emphasized upon.”
PHARMABIZ.com