NPCDCS to be extended across country: Central minister

Union minister Sudip Bandhyopdhyay inspects facilities at AIISH

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Sudip Bandhyopadhyay on Thursday said that National Programme on Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardio Vascular Sciences and Stroke (NPCDCS) will be extended across the nation under 12th five year plan.

Speaking to media after inspecting the functioning of All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), the minister said that the very programme was launched in the year 2010-11 in 100 districts across the nation. It will be soon extended to remaining parts of the country.

The intention behind the programme is to identify the rate of diseases. From each blocks (districts) eight per cent of diabetics are found and it’s alarming, the minister said. Similarly tuberculosis (TB) is emerging as a silent killer.

In this wake there has been a demand for 100 more research and hospital centres. Of them 43 will be set up, said the minister.

Most importantly, according to the minister, following the increasing challenges on health front, there is a demand for more monetary support from the department. For TB alone in the 11th five year plan, a sum of Rs 1,775 crore was allocated. For the current fiscal there has been a demand for Rs 5,770 crore to articulate and improve the existing systems.

The minister was of the opinion that health is always an issue where the State governments have a key role to play, with the central government having a minimum role.

Interaction

Earlier to this, the minister who went around the AIISH campus interacted with the patients, besides kids suffering from speech disorders.

C Ramesh, a senior officer at a MNC bank in the city had lost his speech ability owing to stroke.

After availing treatments at different hospitals, he is now being treated at AIISH, as explained to the minister by a representative of the institute.
The minister also offered chocolates to the kids.

Earlier to Mysore, the minister had visited tuberculosis hospital in Bangalore. He will be visiting JSS Medical College on Friday.

Director of AIISH S R Savitri was present.