**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to questions raised in Lok Sabha (Unstarred Question No. 2133) regarding heart disease in India, to be answered on December 12th, 2025. It outlines the government's efforts to understand, prevent, and control heart attacks, including research, awareness campaigns, and screening initiatives. The document also addresses the specific screening campaign targeting individuals aged 30 and above, running from February 20th, 2025, to March 31st, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Data Collection:**
* Heart attack case data is not maintained centrally.
* **Research on Heart Attacks:**
* ICMR-NIE conducted a study in 25 hospitals across India from October 2021 to January 2023.
* The study focused on patients aged 18-45 with newly diagnosed Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and a control group.
* Hospitalization with AMI was associated with comorbidities, family history of thrombotic events, and smoking.
* **Public Awareness and Prevention Programs:**
* The National Health Mission (NHM) provides technical and financial support for the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), including cardiovascular diseases.
* The program includes 770 District NCD Clinics, 6410 Community Health Center NCD Clinics and 233 Cardiac Care Units.
* The Government supports awareness generation activities for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
* Preventive aspects are strengthened under Comprehensive Primary Health Care through Ayushman Arogya Mandir.
* Initiatives include the Eat Right India movement and the Fit India movement.
* **Research Funding:**
* ICMR has funded two Centres of Advanced Research (CAR) for research on cardiac disorders:
* Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Kerala (heart failure phase II).
* St John's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru (cardiovascular disease intervention package).
* **Screening Initiatives:**
* A population-based initiative for prevention, control, and screening for common NCDs has been implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM), targeting individuals over 30 years of age.
* The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched the NCD Screening Campaign (February 20th to March 31st, 2025) to achieve universal screening of individuals aged 30 years and above.
* The campaign is conducted nationwide across AAMs and other healthcare facilities under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases.
* **Management of Acute Cardiac Events:**
* A hub-and-spoke model is implemented.
* District hospitals and Community Health Centers (spokes) are equipped for initial thrombolysis and stabilization.
* Tertiary hospitals and medical colleges (hubs) offer advanced interventions.
* Ambulance services, telemedicine platforms, and streamlined referral pathways enhance access, especially in rural areas.
**Impact Analysis**
**Citizens Aged 30 and Above**
* **Impact:** Targeted for screening of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including heart-related conditions. Increased awareness and early detection of potential health risks.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the NCD Screening Campaign (February 20th to March 31st, 2025) at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) and other healthcare facilities.
**State and Union Territory Health Departments**
* **Impact:** Receive technical and financial support from the National Health Mission (NHM) for the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD).
* **Action Required:** Implement and support awareness generation activities for NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases. Strengthen preventive healthcare through Comprehensive Primary Health Care.
**Healthcare Facilities (District Hospitals, Community Health Centers, Tertiary Hospitals)**
* **Impact:** District hospitals and Community Health Centers (spokes) are equipped to provide initial thrombolysis and stabilization. Tertiary hospitals and medical colleges (hubs) offer advanced interventions for acute cardiac events.
* **Action Required:** Implement the hub-and-spoke model for managing acute cardiac events. Ensure availability of ambulance services, telemedicine platforms, and streamlined referral pathways.
**Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and affiliated research institutions**
* **Impact:** Funding and support for conducting research on cardiac disorders through the Centres of Advanced Research (CAR). Contribute to understanding the reasons for heart attacks.
* **Action Required:** Continue research on heart disease, focusing on risk factors and intervention strategies. Provide information to the government regarding heart attack trends.
Key Entities Referenced
National Health Mission (NHM): Provides technical and financial support to States and Union Territories for healthcare programs, including those related to non-communicable diseases.
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD): A program focused on preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The primary ministry responsible for public health initiatives, including those related to heart disease prevention and awareness.
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): A research organization that has conducted studies related to heart attacks and funds research centers for cardiac disorders.
Ayushman Arogya Mandir: A component of comprehensive primary health care, promoting wellness activities and targeted communication.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2133
TOBE ANSWERED ON12TH DECEMBER, 2025
AWARENESS CAMPAIGNFORHEARTDISEASE
2133 SHRISANJAYHARIBHAU JADHAV:
SHRISANJAYUTTAMRAO DESHMUKH:
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleasedtostate:
(a) whether it is a fact that there has been a sharp increase in heart attack cases in the country
during the last five yearsandif so,the detailsthereof,State-wise, includingMaharashtra;
(b) the main reasons for the increasing number of heart-attacks in the country and the details of
anystudy or research, if any, conductedbythe Government toidentify the reasons;
(c) whether the Government has launched anypublic awareness campaigns, regular health check
-up programmes treatment services to prevent and control heart attacks and if so, the details
thereof;
(d) the current status of research focused on heart diseases in the country and the names of the
major government research institutes engaging in this field along with the achievements thereof;
and
(e) whether the Government has taken any special measures for screening of heart attacks
especially for the citizens belonging to rural, marginal and economically weaker sections and if
so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE INTHE MINISTRYOFHEALTH ANDFAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)
(a) and(b) The data regarding cases of heart attack isnot maintained centrally. IndianCouncil of
Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that in order to understand the reasons for heart attack,
ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE) conducted a multicentric matched case-
control study in 25 hospitals across India. Cases were patients aged 18-45 years admitted in the
study hospitals with newly diagnosed Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) between October 2021
and January 2023. Controls were patients aged 18-45 years admitted in the same hospital for
other causes, matched for time of hospitalization. Information was collected regarding thevarious risk factors. The study observed that hospitalization with AMI was associated with
presence of anyknown comorbidity, familyhistory of thrombotic eventsandeverbeensmoker.
(c): National Health Mission (NHM) provides technical and financial support to the States and
Union Territories under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-
Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). Cardiovascular disease is an integral part of NP-NCD.
Under the programme, 770 District NCD Clinics, 6410 Community Health Center NCD Clinics
and233 Cardiac Care Units have been set up.
Government of India provides support for awareness generation activities for Non-
Communicable Diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular diseases to be undertaken by the
States and Union Territories. The preventive aspect is strengthened under Comprehensive
Primary Health Care through Ayushman Arogya Mandir, by promotionof wellness activities and
targeted communicationat the communitylevel. Furthermore,the EatRight India movement,led
by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, promotes reduced salt, sugar, and trans-fat
consumption. Fit India movement is implemented by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and
variousYogarelated activitiesare carriedout byMinistry of AYUSH.
(d): ICMR in last two years has funded two Centres of Advanced Research (CAR) for research
oncardiacdisorders. Theyare:
i. Centre for advanced research and excellence in heart failure phase II, Sree Chitra Tirunal
Institute for Medical Sciences andTechnology,Kerala.
ii. Impact, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of a synergistic, multipronged, customized, low-
cost intervention package (IP) to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden among diverse
populationsacross India.StJohn's Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru.
(e): A population-based initiative for prevention, control and screening for common NCDs
including diabetes & hypertension has been rolled out in the country under National Health
Mission (NHM) as a part of Comprehensive Primary Health Care. Under the initiative, persons
more than30 yearsof age are targeted for theirscreening.
Further, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare had launched NCD Screening Campaign (20th
February, 2025 to 31st March 2025) to achieve universal screening of individuals aged 30 years
andabove.The campaignwas conducted nationwide across AAMs andotherhealthcare facilities
underNational Programme for PreventionandControl of Non-Communicable Diseases.
To manage acute cardiac eventsa hub-and-spoke modelhasbeen implemented.District hospitals
and Community Health Centers (spokes) are equipped to provide initial thrombolysis and
stabilization, while tertiary hospitals and medical colleges (hubs) offer advanced interventions.
Ambulance services, telemedicine platforms and streamlined referral pathways further enhance
access, especiallyinrural areas.
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