Lok Sabha Question No. 3421 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-05
Subject: Cases of Dementia
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Kalyan Banerjee

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3421 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH  AUGUST, 2022

## CASES OF DEMENTIA

## 3421.  SHRI KALYAN BANERJEE:

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

- (a) the  number  of  cases  of  dementia  reported  in  the  country  from  the  year  2019  till  date, State/UT-wise and year-wise;
- (b) whether the Government is aware of a recent study conducted by the Lancet Public Health that indicated an increase of dementia cases in the country by 197% by the year 2050;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to evaluate the prevalence of risk factors associated with dementia and implement policies to address these risk factors; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a)  to  (c):  As  per  the  Global  Burden  of  Disease  study,  published  in  Lancet  public  health,  the cases of dementia in India were estimated to be 38,43,118 in the year 2019, and the number of is expected to increase to 1,14,22,692 by the year 2050. The State/UT-wise data regarding cases of dementia is not maintained centrally.

(d) & (e): Risk for Dementia can be potentially reduced by better management of Diabetes and Hypertension.  Government  of  India  implements  the  National  Programme  for  Prevention  and Control  of  Cancer,  Diabetes,  Cardiovascular  Diseases  and  Stroke  (NPCDCS)  with  focus  on strengthening  infrastructure,  human  resource  development,  screening,  early  detection  and management  of  common  Non  Communicable  Diseases (NCDs)  including diabetes and hypertension.  Screening  for  common  NCDs  is  also  an  integral  part  of  service  delivery  under Ayushman  Bharat  -  Health  and  Wellness  Centres.  Government  also  implements  the  National Programme for Health Care of the Elderly (NPHCE). The major activities of NPHCE include setting up of Geriatric Department in regional Geriatric Centres (RGC) with OPD care services and  30  bedded  Geriatric  Ward,  setting  up  of  Geriatric  units  at  District  Hospitals  to  provide specialized  Geriatric  Services  including  a  10  bedded  Geriatric  Ward,  establishment  of  a rehabilitation unit at all Community Health Centres and Geriatric Clinics twice a week, setting up  of  weekly  Geriatric  Clinic  by  trained  Medical  Officers  at  Primary  Health  Centres  and information, education and communication activities on healthy lifestyle, home care to the bed ridden and supporting devices for the needy elderly persons at sub-centre level.

Further, to address the burden of mental disorders, the Government supports implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) under NMHP in 704 districts of the country for detection,  management  and  treatment  of  mental  disorders/  illness.  Under  the  Tertiary  care component  of  National  Mental  Health  Programme,  25  Centres  of  Excellence  and  47  PG Departments have been sanctioned to increase the intake of students in PG departments in mental health specialities as well as to provide tertiary level treatment facilities. The Central and State Mental Health Institutions and the Psychiatric Wings of the Central and State medical colleges also have facilities for early detection and treatment for Alzheimer's Disease, which is the most common cause of Dementia.

Besides the above, the Government has announced a 'National Tele Mental Health Programme' in the Budget of 2022-23, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country.

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