Effect and Prevention of NCD in India
Effect and Prevention of NCD in India
Question:-Around 60% of deaths in India are caused due to the chronic or Non Communicable diseases. How does it affect the huge population of India and also mention how to prevent the increase of NCD.
A non-communicable disease (NCD) is a medical condition which which may be defined as a non infectious or non-transmissible. They lasts for a long period of time and a person can recover from it slowly. They are the main reason for the cause of death and disability in the world.
In India, around 60% of the deaths in 2014 occurred due to the Non communicable diseases. India is supposed to loose $4.58 trillion due to the NCD's and mental disorders between 2012 and 2030.
Non communicable diseases affect the population of India
- Increase in the number of deaths – Around 26% of the people falling in the age group of 30 – 70 years died due to the effect of non communicable diseases in 2014. The increasing deaths are caused due to the four non communicable diseases – cancer, stroke, diabetes and respiratory diseases.
- Decline in demographic dividend – Non communicable diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders and mental illness are contributing to 60% of the deaths in India. India has lost around 9.2 millions due to sudden cardiovascular deaths between the age group of 35-64 years. The increasing concern of non-communicable diseases could take away the demographic dividend of India.
- Increase in poverty – As the number of people suffering from non-communicable diseases increase, their families have to spend a lot on the health issues. Thus, only a less amount will flow to cater the household needs. In India, the total health expenditure is approximately 48%. This can increase the rate of poverty in India.
- Loss of income earning group – Most of the deaths caused by non-communicable diseases occur between the age group of 30-60. This age group is generally the income earning people. Apart from people, the economy of the country would also be affected due to NCD's.
Measures to prevent the increase of NCD's
- Health care – Primary health care should be established in order to help the people suffering from the NCD's. It should give an early detection and provide a timely treatment. An early detection would reduce the cost of the treatment.
- Infrastructure – The rural infrastructure should be increased in order to minimize the non-communicable diseases. The basic facilities like sanitation, drinking water etc should be improved. Unhygienic environment and unclean water can easily cause diseases among the people.
- Healthy diet – Following a healthy diet is a great prevention method against the non-communicable diseases. Exclusion of alcohol and avoiding the intake of tobacco products will be beneficial for the health of a person. The availability of healthy food like fruits and vegetables should be increased.
- Physical activity – People should include physical activities such as work outs or walking or cycling in their daily routine. This would help to reduce the risk of heart attacks or any cardiovascular issues.
- Ban of certain products – The various products of tobacco and provision of alcohol should be banned in all the states in order to achieve a good population growth. A higher intake of tobacco or alcohol can cause health issues like lung disorder or cancers.
- Creating awareness – Around 29.9% of people are illiterate in India. With the help of innovative campaigns and distribution of attractive pamphlets, people should be made aware about the consequence of non-communicable diseases. The package of the tobacco products should carry strict warnings such as “Tobacco is injurious to health” etc.
- Funding by the government – India spends around 4.1% of the GDP on health and thus, it is one among the low spending countries on health. The government of India should allocate more fund in order to have a good health of the people in the country.
Facts and Figures
- Out of 36 million people who died from non-communicable diseases in 2005, half were under the age of 70 and half of them were women.
- India has the largest proportion of young people in the world.
- 65% of India's population is below the age of 35.
- 64% of Indian children are fully immunized.
- India has the second highest number of diabetics in the world.
- 90% of the people in die before the age of 60 from the middle and low income countries.
- The economic survey of 2013 states that India is the lowest spending country on health in the BRICS group.
- The United Nations General Assembly held a high level meeting on NCD prevention and control on September 2011.
- The five factors that are the leading cause of death in the world are cardiovascular diseases, cancers, obesity, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
