Launch nationwide campaign against lifestyle diseases: M Venkaiah Naidu

Chennai: Averring that modern lifestyle diseases are turning into “killers” Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu stressed the need for doctors to launch a nation-wide campaign against the non-communicable diseases (NCD).

“With the NCDs becoming a major killer, it is incumbent upon the medical fraternity to launch a nationwide campaign to create greater awareness on the health hazards of modern-day lifestyles. Lack of physical activity, poor, unbalanced diets, abuse of tobacco and alcohol and environmental factors are among the factors leading to the development of NCDs,” he said and called upon the stakeholders to join hands in building a healthy, vibrant and resurgent India.

Doctors should visit universities and colleges to create greater awareness among students on the need for regular physical activity, eating healthy food and avoiding consumption of alcohol and tobacco, Mr. Venkaiah said while speaking at the inaugural of GEM Hospital, here on Monday. Expressing concern over the rising cost of healthcare services, he said there have been instances in which families have been driven to penury or burdened by debts because of the high costs of treatment.

The biggest challenge, the Vice President said, was building a comprehensive healthcare system amid a huge disparity between urban and rural areas. “The low public spend, low doctor-patient ratio, low patient-bed ratio, rising out-of-pocket expenditure, dearth of medical colleges and trained doctors, inadequate infrastructure in rural areas, lack of penetration of health insurance and inadequate disease surveillance and preventive mechanisms were the formidable challenges to be addressed,” he pointed out.

Mr Venkaiah Naidu complimented the AIADMK government for upholding law and order, and winning awards in tourism, medicine and several other departments.