Measures Taken to Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases

Measures Taken to Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases

The Department of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to States and Union Territories under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non- Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). The programme focuses on strengthening infrastructure, human resource development, screening, early diagnosis, referral, treatment, and health promotion for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Under National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), 770 District NCD Clinics, 364 District Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCC), and 6,410 NCD clinics at Community Health Centres have been set up. Further 297 District Day Care Cancer Centre (DCCC) were approved for the Financial Year 2025-26 to ensure cancer care accessibility at district hospital level.

A population-based initiative for the prevention, control and screening of common non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including three common cancers, has been rolled out across the country. Under the initiative, persons over 30 years of age are targeted for their screening for the common NCDs including Cancer.

The preventive aspect of Cancer is strengthened under Comprehensive Primary Health Care through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) by promotion of wellness activities. Under National Health Mission (NHM), funds are provided to States & Union Territories for awareness generation activities as per their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) report “India: Health of the Nation’s States” (2017), the causes and risk factors associated with the rising burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including cancer, diabetes and chronic kidney diseases have been identified through disease burden studies. The report highlights major behavioural, environmental and metabolic risk factors such as air pollution, tobacco use, unhealthy diet, high blood pressure and high blood sugar which contribute to these diseases.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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