Lok Sabha Question No. 141 (STARRED), answered on 2022-02-11
Subject: Thyroid Disorder
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Kaushalendra Kumar

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.141 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

## THYROID DISORDER

## †*141. SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  every  third  woman  in  the  country  is affected by thyroid disorder and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has taken any effective measures to address the issue of  increasing  incidence  of  the  said  disorder  among  women  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken cognizance of the fact that thyroid disorder increases the risk of cancer and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether air pollution, food habits and lifestyle are causing this disorder and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  formulate  any  action  plan  to  raise awareness regarding thyroid disorders in the country and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 141* FOR 11 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022

(a) to  (e):  As  per  National  Family  Health  Survey-  4  (2015-16),  prevalence  of Goitre  and  any  other  thyroid  disorders,  based  on  self-reports  in  the  women  (15-49 years) is 2.2%.

In order to prevent and control Nutritional Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs), Government  of  India  (GoI)  is  implementing  National  Iodine  Deficiency  Disorders Control Programme (NIDDCP) in the country for the entire population. The important measures undertaken by the Government are: -

- i. To  ensure  supply  of  Iodised  salt  in  place  of  common  salt  in  the  entire country.
- ii. Financial  assistance  to  all  States  /UTs  for  establishment  of  State  Iodine Deficiency  Disorders  Control  Cell  and  State  IDD  Monitoring  Laboratory, conducting District IDD surveys/resurveys, health education and publicity to create awareness about IDD, promoting consumption of adequately iodised salt  and  monitoring of  iodine  content  of salt through salt testing kit  at the household/ community level.
- iii. Information Education and Communication activities to generate awareness about Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs) and importance of consumption of  Iodised  salt  among  population  in  all  the  States  and  UTs through  Prasar Bharti (All India Radio & Doordarshan) and publishing of IDD messages on News papers/Railway reservation tickets through Directorate of Advertisement & Visual Publicity.
- iv. Monitoring of quality of iodised salt at production and distribution level.
- v. Standards and regulations for Iodized salt were prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.  Regulation 2.9.30 (1)(2)(3) of Food Safety and  Standards  (Food  Product  Standards  and  Food  Additives),  Regulation, 2011 prescribes the standard for edible common salt including iodised salt. Regulation 2.3.12 of Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on  Sales),  Regulation,  2011  restricts  the  sale  of  common  salt  for  direct human consumption unless the same is iodised.
- vi. As  an  outcome  of  the  programme,  the  use/consumption  of  iodised  salt  at household level has reached to 94.3% as per NFHS - 5 Report (2019-21).
- vii. National  guidelines  for  screening  of  hypothyroidism  during  pregnancy issued by Maternal Health Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India in the year 2014, these guidelines aim for early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders during pregnancy.

As  per  the  World  Health  Organization  (WHO)  factsheet  (3rd  February, 2022), common causes of cancer include:

- physical carcinogens, such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation;
- chemical  carcinogens,  such  as  asbestos,  components  of  tobacco smoke,  alcohol,  aflatoxin  (a  food  contaminant),  and  arsenic  (a  drinking water contaminant); and
- biological carcinogens, such as infections from certain viruses, bacteria, or parasites.

Other  than  iodine  deficiency,  sedentary  lifestyle  and  food  habits  may  be associated with thyroid disorders.

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