Hyderabad: Health minister Damodar Raja Narasimha on Thursday conducted a review meeting on Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) clinics, focussing on their operation and results of the recent statewide survey. The survey, which screened 1.66 crore individuals aged 30 and above, revealed that 22.94 lakh people have high blood pressure and 11.9 lakh individuals suffer from diabetes.
The minister was informed that free medication was being provided to these patients as part of the govt’s initiative to manage chronic conditions. He directed health officials to create detailed patient lists at village, mandal and district levels, ensuring that they are linked with NCD clinics for consistent monitoring and treatment.
The minister emphasised the importance of patient education, urging that they be made aware of the services available at NCD clinics, and educated on lifestyle changes and precautions to manage conditions such as BP and diabetes. He also called for awareness campaigns to be conducted regularly, including mobile-based initiatives, to promote ongoing treatment adherence among patients.
An update on the availability of essential resources at govt hospitals and NCD clinics, including equipment, medicines and staff was sought from senior officials. The minister instructed officials to continue the NCD survey and ensure that newly identified patients are added to the list for regular follow-ups and treatment.
