Parliament Question: Diabetes Cases

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 977 TO BE ANSWERED ON5THDECEMBER, 2025 DIABETES CASES 977SHRIARUNKUMARSAGAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleasedtostate:

(a) whether the Government is aware of that diabetes has become a major disease in the countryandif so, the detailsthereof;

(b) whether the Government has conducted any survey to find out the total number of people sufferingfrom diabetesinthe countryandif so, the detailsthereof; and

(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to provide affordable test kits to diabeticpatients andtoraise awareness inthisregard? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH ANDFAMILY WELFARE

(SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV)

(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 1990and2016.

As perdata from the ICMR-India Diabetes(ICMR-INDIAB) study period from 2008 to2021 conducted inthe 31 States/UTs studied amongthe adults aged20yearsandabove, the overall weightedprevalenceof 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 commonNCDs including diabeteshasbeen rolledout inthe countryunderNHM asa part of Comprehensive Primary Health Care. Under the initiative, persons more than 30 years of age are targeted for theirscreening 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 initiativesinclude:i.AwarenessactivitiesarecarriedoutunderInformation,EducationandCommunication(IEC) and Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) campaigns to encourage healthy lifestyles, earlydiagnosisanddiabetesprevention.

ii. Financial support is providedto States and UnionTerritories for conducting awareness generationactivities underNHM aspertheirProgrammeImplementationPlans. iii. National and international days, such as World DiabetesDay are leveraged to disseminate keymessages through print,electronic andsocial media.

iv. Food Safety & Standards Authority of India promotes healthy eating through initiatives like ‘Eat Right India’ and‘Aaj SeThoda Kum’. v. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports promotes physical activity andfitness among the populationthrough campaignssuch asthe ‘Fit India Movement’ and‘Khelo India’.

vi. The Ministry of AYUSH promotes wellness and preventive health through various yoga based activitiesat the communitylevel.

Under free Diagnostics and free Drugs Service Initiative of NHM, free test kits and essential medicines for NCDs are provided.Quality generic medicinesfor 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 medicinesfor treatment of variousdiseases includingNCDs. ******