Lok Sabha Question No. 473 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-04
Subject: Dementia Cases
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Balubhau (Alias Suresh Narayan) Dhanorkar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 473 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## DEMENTIA CASES

## 473. SHRI BALUBHAU ALIAS SURESH NARAYAN DHANORKAR:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that a recent study conducted by the Lancet Public Health indicated an increase of dementia cases in India by 197 per cent by the year 2050;
- (b) whether the Government intends to evaluate the prevalence of risk factors associated with dementia and implement policies to address said risk factors;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether  smoking  is  one  of  the  risk  factors  associated  with  dementia,  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government intends to curb the production and sale of cigarettes and 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): 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 197%) by the year 2050.

(b) & (c): Risk for Dementia can be potentially reduced by better management of Diabetes and Hypertension. Government of India is implementing 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  is  also  implementing  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 is supporting 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.

(d): As per the Lancet Global Commission, 2020, smoking is considered as one of the modifiable risk factors for dementia prevalence. Smoking can increase the risk of dementia by increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke, narrowing the blood vessels in the heart and brain, causing oxidative stress which damages the brain.

(e): The major steps taken by the Government to curb the use of tobacco in country are as under:

- i. The  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family  Welfare  has  enacted  a  comprehensive  legislation, namely  the  Cigarettes  and  Other  Tobacco  Products  (Prohibition  of  Advertisement  and Regulation  of  Trade  and  Commerce,  Production,  Supply  and  Distribution)  Act,  2003 (COTPA 2003) to discourage the consumption of tobacco products in order to protect the masses  from  the  health  hazards  attributable  to  tobacco  use.  The  provisions  under COTPA, 2003 and the Rules made thereunder mandates prohibition of smoking in public places;  ban  on  sale  of  tobacco  products  to  and  by  minors  and  within  100  yards  of educational institutions; prohibition on direct and indirect advertising of tobacco products and mandatory display of specified health warnings.
- ii. The  National  Tobacco  Control  Programme  (NTCP)  was  launched  by  this  Ministry  in 2007-  08  with  the  aim  to  (i)  create  awareness  about  the  harmful  effects  of  tobacco consumption,  (ii)  reduce  the  production  and  supply  of  tobacco  products,  (iii)  ensure effective  implementation  of  the  provisions  under  COTPA,  2003  (iv)  help  people  quit tobacco use, and (v) facilitate implementation of strategies for prevention and control of tobacco advocated by  WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control. Enforcement efforts  are  also  monitored  by  the  State  Tobacco  Control  Cells  (STCCs)  and  District Tobacco Control Cells (DTCCs).
- iii. Specified health warnings are displayed on all tobacco products packs covering 85% of the principal display area of tobacco product packs.
- iv. Revised  guidelines  for  Tobacco  Free  Educational  Institutions  (ToFEI)  to  implement Section-6 of COTPA, 2003 have been disseminated/implemented.

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