Dinesh Gundu Rao
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Department’s flagship non-communicable disease screening and management scheme ‘Gruha Arogya Yojane’ has now expanded in both reach and scope, with its statewide expansion launched on Monday covering 14 disorders.
The scheme, which was launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on October 24, 2024, and piloted in Kolar, aims to conduct free door-to-door screening and timely detection and management of five non-communicable diseases such as cancers and diabetes among people aged 30 years and above.
Launching the expanded scheme in Bengaluru on Monday, state health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao pointed to a rise in non-communicable diseases.
According to department data, the prevalence of hypertension is 26.9 per cent among men and 25 per cent among women, while the state burden of diabetes is 15.6 per cent men and 14 per cent women.
The approximate target populations among the 30+ age group are 82.32 lakh hypertensive and 47.28 lakh diabetic patients, as per the NFHS-5.
Now, besides the initial five disorders — hypertension, diabetes, and oral, breast, and cervical cancers — the scheme will include in its ambit diabetic foot and diabetic retinopathy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obstructive sleep apnea, anemia (for 19 to 29-year-old), neuropsychiatric disorders and mental health disorders.
Identifying them in the early stages to treat and control them is the government’s role, said Rao, while acknowledging the role of private NGOs in organising screening camps.
He noted that private players did not show much interest in early detection and prevention activities from a profit perspective. This is where the government comes in with a specific focus, he said.
The scheme will bring diagnosis and treatment closer to people’s homes, and focus on raising awareness among communities about the disorders and mechanisms to control it.
After diagnosis, free medicines will also be given to people at their nearest Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM), and their progress will be monitored.
“If we detect patients early and treat them, this also reduces patients’ and their families’ expenses, besides bringing down government expenditure,” said the minister.
While ASHAs work on community mobilisation and raising awareness, community health officers (CHOs), primary health care officers (PHCOs) will conduct screening at the AAMs and enter data into the NCD portal besides offering counselling and referral to taluk or district hospitals for further testing and treatment. Medical officers will provide diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management.
The minister also released a handbook for CHOs, PHCOs, and ASHAs, with questionnaires, SOPs and planning sheets for screening activities.