Crippled with shortage of doctors, the Union health ministry has decided to take help from the private institutions to take up their pet project that aims to screen people for cancer and cardio-vascular diseases.
In a meeting held with the Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad recently almost 25 well-known private institutions have agreed to adopt districts and to start with the screening process under the National Programme for prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS).
“While, it was easy to start with the screening of diabetes and hypertension. Lot of expertise and human resources are needed for diseases like cancer and cardio vascular diseases. We are in a process of chalking out a plan to rope in private institutions so that they can take it up in districts. We have so far got a very good response from these private institutions,” Union health minister Ghulam Nabi said.
The screening programme aiming at population above 30 years of age has been initiated in 100 districts and 21 states so far.
Till now 38112537 persons have been screened for diabetes and 2014385 persons have been screened for hypertension. The ministry data finds detection Of 6.32 per cent as suspected of diabetes and 5.91 per cent suspected of hypertension.