Lok Sabha Question No. 3234 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-13
Subject: Iodine Deficiency Disorder
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Ganesan Selvam, Gautham Sigamani Pon, Dhanush M Kumar, Sunil Dattatray Tatkare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3234 TH

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 MARCH, 2020

## IODINE DEFICIENCY DI SORDER

## 3234. DR. HEENA GAVIT:

SHRI SELVAM G.:

SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON:

SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR:

SHRI SUNIL DATTATRAY TATKARE:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the entire population in India is prone to Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) deficie ncy of iodine in the soil of the subcontinent and consequently the food derived fro so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government to control IDD in the countr
- (b) whether Thyroid disorders are on the rise in the country with app roximately 1 in 10 adult women suffer from hypothyroidism, if so, the details of the States which are highly affe thyroid disorder;
- (c) whether many of the women patient of thyroid/ arthritis are not able to get good trea due to shortage of trained endocrinologist in Government hospitals;
- (d) if so, the reasons for shortage of trained endocrinologist in the country and the ste appoint more endocrinologists in Government hospitals; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to include Thyroid in the National Health Programme a provide  financial  assistance  to  such  needy  patients  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof measures be ing taken to promote affordable treatment of thyroid to young girl and women urban and rural areas and control thyroid disease?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- ( a) : National  Iodine  Deficiency  Disorders  Control  Programme  (NIDDCP)  is  being implemented in all the States/UTs for entire population with the goals t o bring the prevalence of IDD to below 5% in the country and to ensure 100% consumption of adequately iodated salt (15ppm)  at  the  household  level.  Financial  assistance  is  also  provided  to  all  States/U establishment of  Iodine  Deficiency Disorders Control Cell and IDD Monitoring  Laborator conducting  District  IDD  Surveys/  Resurveys,  health  education  and  publi city  to  create

awareness about  IDD, promoting consumption of adequately iodated salt and monitoring o Iodine content of salt through salt testing kits at the household/community level. (b)  to  (e):A  study  on  prevalence  of  hypothyroidism  in  pregnant  wome n  from  various States/cities  across  India  demonstrated  that  13.3%  have  hypothyroidism  majority  bei subclinical. City/State wise percent prevalence of hypothyroidism in pregnant women in study is annexed. Findings of this study are cons istent with other previously reported data of our countr which show that there is a rising trend of hypothyroidism among pregnant women in India. Women  patients  of  thyroid/arthritis  are  routinely  provided  treatment  at  thyro arthritis clinic  in  tertiary  level  government  hospitals  by  physicians  and  endocrinolo (wherever available).  Shortage of endocrinologist is addressed through contractual appoi against vacant posts so that the services are continued unhindered. Treatment for hypothyroidism is provided, including to young girls and children,  f cost in all public health facilities.

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0Annexure Prevalence of hypothyroidism among pregnant women in different states across India

| City                     |   Hypothyroidism Prevalence (%) |
|--------------------------|---------------------------------|
| Uttar Pradesh(Allahabad) |                           15.66 |
| Karnataka(Bengaluru)     |                            7.8  |
| Haryana (Rohtak)         |                           19.4  |
| Tamil Nadu(Chennai)      |                            8.69 |
| West Bengal (Kolkata)    |                           11.76 |
| Talangana(Hyderabad)     |                            8.59 |
| Maharashtra(Nasik)       |                           14    |
| Delhi (New Delhi)        |                           16.21 |
| Maharashtra( Pune)       |                           17.85 |
| Jammu &Kashmir(Srinagar) |                           39    |
| Andhra Pradesh (Vizag)   |                            8.94 |

Source:  Prevalence  of  hypothyroidism  in  pregnancy:  An  epidemiological  study from  11  cities  in  9  States  of  India  by  Dinesh  Kumar  Dhanwal  et  al,  Journal  of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2016.

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