Lok Sabha Question No. 977 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Diabetes Cases
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Arun Kumar Sagar

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 977 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH DECEMBER, 2025

## DIABETES CASES

## 977 SHRI ARUN KUMARSAGAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of that diabetes has become a major disease in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any survey to find out the total number of people suffering from diabetes in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to provide affordable test kits to diabetic patients and to raise awareness in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV )

(a) & (b): As per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) report titled "India: Health of the Nation's States - 2017", the contribution of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, to overall mortality and disease burden has grown substantially between 1990 and 2016.

As per data from the ICMR-India Diabetes (ICMR-INDIAB) study period from 2008 to 2021 conducted in the 31 States/UTs studied among the adults aged 20 years and above, the overall weighted prevalence of diabetes was 11.4%.

- (c): National Health Mission (NHM) provides technical and financial support to the States and Union Territories under NP-NCD. Diabetes is an integral part of NP-NCD. Under the programme, 770 District NCD Clinics and 6410 Community Health Centre NCD Clinics have been set up. Further, a population-based initiative for prevention, control and screening for common NCDs including diabetes has been rolled out in the country under NHM as a part of Comprehensive Primary Health Care. Under the initiative, persons more than 30 years of age are targeted for their screening through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

The Government of India through the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to raise diabetes awareness and promote early care-seeking, particularly among low-income and underserved groups. Key initiatives include:

i. Awareness activities are carried out under Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) campaigns to encourage healthy lifestyles, early diagnosis and diabetes prevention.

ii. Financial support is provided to States and Union Territories for conducting awareness generation activities under NHM as per their Programme Implementation Plans.

iii. National and international days, such as World Diabetes Day are leveraged to disseminate key messages through print, electronic and social media.

iv. Food Safety & Standards Authority of India promotes healthy eating through initiatives like 'Eat Right India' and 'Aaj Se Thoda Kum'.

v. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports promotes physical activity and fitness among the population through campaigns such as the 'Fit India Movement' and 'Khelo India'.

vi. The Ministry of AYUSH promotes wellness and preventive health through various yoga based activities at the community level.

Under free Diagnostics and free Drugs Service Initiative of NHM, free test kits and essential medicines for NCDs are provided. Quality generic medicines for NCDs are made available at affordable prices to all, under 'Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) provides affordable medicines for treatment of various diseases including NCDs.

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