Health Awareness Days (India Focus)

Breast cancer has surpassed cervical cancer as the most common cancer among women in India, accounting for about 14% of all cancers. Cervical cancer is second. India's 'Ayushman Bharat' scheme covers cancer treatment. The National Cancer Grid (NCG) and Tata Memorial Hospital (Mumbai) lead cancer care. Late diagnosis is a major challenge — National Cancer Awareness Day is November 7.

India's National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Elimination 2017–2025 targets TB elimination by 2025 — five years ahead of the global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 2030. PM Modi launched the 'TB Harega Desh Jeetega' campaign. India has about 2.8 million new TB cases per year. The Nikshay Poshan Yojana provides nutritional support of ₹500/month to TB patients.

India's National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) covers: Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunya, Kala-azar (Visceral Leishmaniasis), Japanese Encephalitis (JE), and Lymphatic Filariasis. India aims to eliminate Kala-azar from endemic districts and Lymphatic Filariasis by 2030. Annual parasite incidence (API) for malaria has declined dramatically — from 4.7 in 1995 to below 1 in recent years.

NACO (National AIDS Control Organisation) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare manages India's National AIDS Control Programme (NACP). India's estimated HIV prevalence has declined from the peak of 0.38% in 2001 to about 0.21% (2021). India has about 2.3 million people living with HIV — third highest globally. Free ART (antiretroviral therapy) is provided through government centres.

The NPCDCS is implemented under the National Health Mission (NHM) to prevent and control major non-communicable diseases — cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke. India has approximately 54 million CVD patients. Risk factors include hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and obesity. The programme focuses on population-based screening and early detection through Health and Wellness Centres.

As per the ICMR-INDIAB 2023 study, India has approximately 101 million people with diabetes — the highest in the world. 136 million have pre-diabetes. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 95% of cases. India faces the 'Asian Indian Phenotype' — susceptibility to diabetes at lower BMI levels. The National Diabetes Control Programme (NDCP) aims to screen and manage diabetes through the Health and Wellness Centres.

India's mental health treatment gap is estimated at 70–80% — meaning 7–8 out of every 10 people with mental health conditions don't receive treatment. India has only about 9,000 psychiatrists for 1.4 billion people (WHO recommends 3 per 100,000 — India has <1). The National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) and the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 aim to bridge this gap.

India mandates pictorial health warnings covering 85% of cigarette and tobacco product packaging — one of the largest such warnings globally. This was implemented under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, amended in 2014. India is a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Despite this, India has about 267 million tobacco users.

India has approximately 220 million people with hypertension — making it the country with the second highest hypertension burden globally. Only about 10% have their blood pressure under control. The India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) launched in 2017 by ICMR and WHO aims to improve hypertension control. Screening is done at Health and Wellness Centres (Ayushman Arogya Mandirs).

India's polio eradication was considered the most challenging globally — due to population density (1.4 billion), poor sanitation, high disease endemicity, and vast geography. Despite this, India achieved 3 consecutive polio-free years by 2014. The 'Pulse Polio' campaign ('Do Boond Zindagi Ki') gave oral polio drops to every child below 5 at immunisation booths. India's last polio case was in West UP in January 2011.

Multiple schemes support kidney disease patients in India: PM-JAY (Ayushman Bharat) covers kidney transplants for eligible patients; Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN) gives one-time financial assistance to BPL patients for serious illnesses including kidney disease; and state Chief Ministers' relief funds provide ad-hoc support. Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme provides free dialysis at district hospitals.

India has approximately 1.3 million registered allopathic (MBBS) doctors as per Medical Council of India data. India also has about 800,000 AYUSH practitioners. The doctor-to-patient ratio in India is approximately 1:1,456 (WHO recommends 1:1,000). India faces a severe shortage of specialists, particularly in rural areas. The National Medical Commission Act (2020) replaced the MCI.

India collects approximately 14 million units of blood per year against a requirement of about 15 million units — creating a shortfall. About 54% of donations are voluntary (Voluntary Non-Remunerated Blood Donation — VNRBD), with the rest being replacement donations. The National Blood Policy (2002) targets 100% VNRBD. India's e-RaktKosh portal helps coordinate blood availability across blood banks.

Despite elimination as a public health problem (prevalence below 1 per 10,000), India still detects approximately 75,000–80,000 new leprosy cases per year — accounting for about 50% of global new cases. This highlights ongoing transmission in pockets. The National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) provides free multidrug therapy (MDT). States with highest burden: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha.

Dengue cases in India peak during June–October — the monsoon and post-monsoon months. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes breed in clean, stagnant water accumulated during the rains (water containers, tyres, flower pots). The 'dry day' practice (regularly emptying water containers) is the most effective prevention. India reports 150,000–300,000+ dengue cases annually, with severe outbreaks in Delhi, Chennai, and Kerala.

Thalassaemia carrier rates are highest in Gujarat (17% in some communities like Lohanas), Maharashtra, Punjab (Khatri, Arora communities), and Sindhi communities. The Beta Thalassaemia carrier rate in India averages about 3–4% nationally. Mandatory pre-marital screening and amniocentesis are recommended preventive measures. The National Thalassaemia Control Programme provides free blood transfusions and chelation therapy.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme envisioned 1.5 lakh (150,000) Health and Wellness Centres (now Ayushman Arogya Mandirs) to deliver comprehensive primary healthcare — covering 12 expanded services including NCD screening, mental health, oral health, and geriatric care. These are upgraded from Sub-Centres and Primary Health Centres (PHCs). They are staffed by Community Health Officers (CHOs) — mid-level healthcare providers.

Cataract is the most common cause of blindness in India (about 62–66% of cases). The National Programme for Control of Blindness (NPCB) provides free cataract surgeries — performing about 7–8 million cataract operations annually. India performs more cataract surgeries than any other country. The 'Mission for Vision' aims to eliminate avoidable blindness. Eye donation can restore sight to corneal blind individuals.

Hepatitis E (faeco-oral transmission) causes the majority of epidemic jaundice outbreaks in India — particularly during/after floods due to contaminated water. Hepatitis A also spreads faeco-orally but is more common in children. Hepatitis B (blood-borne) is the most prevalent chronic hepatitis in India. The Universal Immunisation Programme covers Hepatitis B vaccination (birth dose + 3 doses) for all newborns.

India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) declined to 97 per 100,000 live births (SRS 2018–20) — a major improvement from 254 in 2004–06 and 556 in 1990. India has achieved a 70% reduction in MMR since 1990. The Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), and LaQshya Programme (quality improvement in labour rooms) have been crucial to this progress.