Lok Sabha Question No. 303 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-21
Subject: Deaths Caused by Non-Communicable Diseases
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Kirsan Namdeo

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 303 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21 ST MARCH, 2025

## DEATHS CAUSED BY NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

## *303. DR. KIRSAN NAMDEO:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of deaths caused by non-communicable diseases in the country, year-wise;
- (b) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to create awareness and to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in the country; and
- (c) whether the Government has any plans to provide affordable and robust healthcare services in the country given the fact that the out-of-pocket expenditure on healthcare is still very high and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)

- (a) to (c): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHASTARRED QUESTION NO.303 FOR 21 st MARCH, 2025

…

(a) According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) study report 'India: Health of the Nation's States' published in 2017, the proportion of deaths due to Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) have increased in India from 37.9% in 1990 to 61.8% in 2016. The Report is available at:

https://www.healthdata.org/sites/default/files/files/policy\_report/2017/India\_Health\_of\_the\_Nati on%27s\_States\_Report\_2017.pdf

(b) & (c) Population-based initiative for prevention, control and screening for common NCDs i.e. diabetes, hypertension and common cancers has been rolled out as a part of Comprehensive Primary Health Care in the country under National Health Mission (NHM). Screening is conducted through Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) & Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) using Community-Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC).

Other initiatives for increasing public awareness about non-communicable diseases and for promotion of healthy lifestyle includes observation of National and International Days and use of print, electronic and social media for continued community awareness. In addition, NP-NCD gives financial support under NHM for awareness generation (IEC) activities for noncommunicable diseases to be undertaken by the States and Union Territories.

Initiatives like 'Eat Right India' movement and 'Fit India' movement promote health eating habits and physical activity. The 'Aaj se thoda kum' campaign encourages reduction in oil, sugar and salt intake.

As per the National Health Account Estimates, the share of Out-Of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) in Total Health Expenditure (THE) has significantly decreased from 62.6% in 2014-15 to 39.4% in 2021-22. Various steps have been taken to provide affordable healthcare to reduce OOPE:

- (a) The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) provides financial and technical assistance to States and Union Territories with a focus on strengthening infrastructure, human resources, early diagnosis, referrals, treatment, and awareness for NCD prevention. Under the programme, 770 District NCD Clinics, 233 Cardiac Care Units, 372 District Day Care Centres, and 6,410 NCD clinics at Community Health Centres have been set up.
- (b) 19 State Cancer Institutes (SCIs) and 20 Tertiary Cancer Care Centers (TCCCs) have been set up in different parts of the country to provide advanced health care.
- (c) Further, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Jhajjar, with 1,460 patient care beds and advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities and the second campus of Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata, with 460 beds have been set up by the Government to provide super-specialty care.
- (d) Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Program ensures availability of free dialysis services for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients who are Below the Poverty Line (BPL) in all the district hospitals in the country.
- (e) Treatment of NCDs is also available under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY). This scheme provides for ₹5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care, benefiting 55 crore people. It covers procedures relating to chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other non-communicable diseases.
- (f) One-time financial assistance upto ₹15 lakh is provided under the Health Minister's Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) for treatment of poor patients living below poverty lines and suffering from cancer.
- (g) Initiatives like Jan Aushadhi Stores and Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) pharmacies provide affordable medicines for NCDs at discounted rates.
- (h) Custom duty and GST reductions on certain anti cancer drugs have been implemented to make them more affordable.

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