Union Health Ministry’s “75/25” initiative aims to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through primary healthcare
India, May 17, 2023 – The Union Health Ministry of India has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative called “75/25” on World Hypertension Day, aiming to screen and provide standard care to 75 million individuals suffering from hypertension and diabetes by the year 2025. This initiative was announced during the G20 co-branded event, “Accelerating the Prevention and Management of Hypertension and Diabetes,” organized by the Union Health Ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr. V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating that it represents the largest expansion of NCDs in primary healthcare globally. The Indian government’s commitment to addressing NCDs is evident through the allocation of resources, capacity enhancement, mobilization, and multi-sectoral collaboration. Dr. Paul emphasized that India aims to become a developed nation within the next 25 years, and improving social indicators like life expectancy and NCD management is crucial in achieving this goal.
Inter-sectoral collaboration and public-private partnerships crucial in combating NCDs, says Health Secretary
Recognizing the importance of prevention and management at the primary healthcare level, India has already established over 1.5 lakh Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and implemented telemedicine and digital health services. Dr. Paul urged state teams to adhere to screening standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emphasized the need for private sector engagement and academic collaboration to achieve the ambitious targets.
Congratulating India on its initiative, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, praised the Indian government’s target of reaching 75 million individuals with hypertension under standard care, calling it the largest coverage of NCDs in primary healthcare worldwide.
In his address, Shri Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary, emphasized the interplay between the economy, societal forces, and epidemiological factors in combating NCDs. He highlighted the need for inter-sectoral efforts and collaboration between the public and private sectors to address the growing burden of NCDs in the country.
The launch of the Shashakt Portal, which will train 40,000 Primary Health Care Medical Officers on the Standard Treatment Workflow for NCDs, was also announced. Additionally, revised operational guidelines for the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases were issued to expand coverage and include diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and ST elevation of myocardial infarction (STEMI), in addition to hypertension, diabetes, and three common cancers.
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