Early Detection of Life Threatening Diseases

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The Department of Health & Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS), as part of the National Health Mission (NHM), based on the proposals received from the States/UTs and subject to the resource envelope. Cancer is an integral part of NPCDCS. The programme focuses on strengthening infrastructure, human resource development, health promotion & awareness generation, screening, early diagnosis, management and referral to an appropriate level of the healthcare facility for treatment of the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including Cancer. Under NPCDCS, 707 District NCD Clinics, 193 District Cardiac Care Units, 268 Day Care Centres and 5541 Community Health Centre NCD Clinics have been set up.

A population-based initiative for prevention, control and screening for common NCDs i.e., diabetes, hypertension and common cancers has been rolled out in the country under NHM and also as a part of Comprehensive Primary Health Care. Under the initiative, persons more than 30 years of age are targeted for their screening for the three common cancers i.e., oral, breast and cervical. Screening of these common cancers is an integral part of service delivery under Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres.

Ayushman Bharat- Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs), including primary healthcare services expanded from selective to Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) inclusive of NCD services, closer to the community. Preventive aspect of life-threatening diseases such as cancer is being strengthened under Comprehensive Primary Health Care through Ayushman Bharat Health Wellness Centre Scheme, by promotion of wellness activities and targeted communication at the community level.

As on 30^th January 2023, 1,56,332 Health & Wellness Centres have been functional which includes 1,25,602 Sub-Health Centre level AB-HWCs, 23,512 Primary Health Centre level AB-HWCs and 7,218 Urban Primary Health Centre level AB–HWCs (Source – AB-HWC Portal, as on 30th January 2023). The States/UTs wise details of Health and Wellness Centres are available at https://ab-hwc.nhp.gov.in/home/satewisereport/.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha yesterday.