The health of India's vast populace is, of course, important for its own sake. It is also a critical component of rapid growth-think of it as the cause, not the effect, of India becoming a global giant. A healthy workforce will be the life-force of our economy. The challenges before us are stark. While making health accessible and affordable to the masses is critical, there has to be a major emphasis on tackling the new epidemic of lifestyle diseases that are classified as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report titled 'Invisible Numbers', a staggering 66 per cent of deaths in India in 2019 were attributed to NCDs: high blood pressure, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, stroke, renal disease and mental disorders. The report suggests that 22 per cent of Indians then at age 30 or more would succumb to these before their 70th birthday. In 2017, the Indian Council of Medical Research, too, had estimated that the share of deaths due to NCDs in India increased from 37.9 per cent in 1990 to 61.8 per cent in 2016. "Not only is the financial strain of treating NCDs higher, so are the mortality rates," says Dr Dorairaj Prabhakaran, noted cardiologist and Executive Director, Centre for Chronic Disease Control. He also cites the reduction in quality of life that patients suffer. "Unlike an infectious disease, NCDs stay with you for life and need vigilant monitoring and medicine,” adds Dr Prabhakaran.
On top of the rising burden of NCDs, there is also a prediction that a large elderly population's health needs will be specific and call for long-term structures to be put in place.
この記事は India Today の August 26, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は India Today の August 26, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Screaming Success
Now Funny, Now Scary, This Genre Has Come Of Age In Hindi Cinema, Pulling In Audiences And Monster Returns At The Box Office
KING OF FRUITS
Sopan Joshi's Mangifera indica: A Biography of the Mango is an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at the world's most delicious fruit
HAVING THE LAST WORD
Writer, politician and wordsmith Shashi Tharoor is out with a book of essays celebrating the magical world of words
Indian Encore
The legendary tenor Plácido Domingo will be in Mumbai with the opera competition Operalia, which makes its debut in India
Charismatic Cat
Peppered with stunning illustrations, Caracal: An Intimate History of a Mysterious Cat is a deeply moving and meticulously researched account of the elusive felid
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
After a pandemic-induced hiatus, actor Sharvari is riding high with several back-to-back releases-from Munjya to Maharaj and Vedaa
Trial by Fire
Hounded by allegations of conflict of interest in the Adani probe and rising discontent among her own staff, the Sebi chief has much to answer for-and disclose
WE WILL ROCK YOU
India's winter concert season is looking great, with leading international stars and bands set to captivate audiences
PK WALKS THE BIG POLL TALK
Prashant Kishor, the ace of the backroom, joins the battle for Bihar with lofty ambitions. Can his armoury of new ideas upset the old equations?
LORD of the ROLES
VIKKANT MASSEY is nothing if not versatile, straddling the worlds of independent and commercial cinema with élan