India is accelerating its response to Non-Communicable Diseases by shifting from a treatment-focused system to one centred on prevention, early detection, and decentralised care.
With Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) now accounting for 60% of total deaths in India, the government has accelerated the National Program for Prevention and Control of NCDs (NP-NCD). A critical component of this strategy is the establishment of 1.85 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, which serve as the primary contact point for 1.45 billion citizens, supported by ASHA workers and frontline health staff.
The strategy combines mass screening, infrastructure expansion, and digital health delivery. A ₹64,000 crore Health Infrastructure Mission is strengthening district and secondary care facilities, while telemedicine through eSanjeevani has enabled over 46 crore consultations, improving access in underserved regions.
The policy also emphasises lifestyle risk reduction, with nearly 70 percent of NCD risk linked to behavioural factors such as diet and physical inactivity. Alongside expanded tertiary capacity, including AIIMS and medical colleges, the government is moving toward a system where chronic diseases are identified early and managed locally.
Key Health Metrics and Infrastructure Milestones
Massive Screenings: 41.5 crore (Hypertension), 41.3 crore (Diabetes), 35.3 crore (Oral Cancer), 16.5 crore (Breast Cancer), and 8.73 crore (Cervical Cancer).
Disease Notification: 7.1 crore diagnosed with hypertension; 4.7 crore found diabetic with 3.4 crore currently under treatment.
Infrastructure Boost: ₹64,000 crore allocated under the Health Infrastructure Mission; 107 NCD clinics and 233 cardiac care units operational at district levels.
Telemedicine Reach: 46.4 crore teleconsultations completed via eSanjeevani (provider-to-provider and patient-to-provider).
Education Expansion: Growth to 880 medical colleges to strengthen the medical workforce.
Lifestyle Factors: 70% of NCD risks identified as lifestyle-driven, with NFHS-5 data showing 24% of women and 23% of men as overweight or obese.
Policy Relevance
Reduces Economic Burden: By focusing on the preventive part of the 70% lifestyle-driven risk factors, the government aims to lower the long-term economic cost of treating late-stage NCD complications like renal failure and cardiovascular surgery.
Closes the Rural-Urban Gap: The ₹64,000 crore Health Infrastructure Mission and the eSanjeevani platform are designed to provide specialist "super-specialty" advice to remote villages, ensuring geography is not a barrier to quality care.
Drives Behavioural Change: Campaigns like "Eat Right India" and "Fit India" move health policy out of hospitals and into kitchens and playgrounds, focusing on the Prime Minister’s call to reduce salt, sugar, and oil consumption.
Supports Cancer Care: The establishment of Day Care Cancer Centres in every district represents a major shift toward making chemotherapy and palliative care accessible locally, reducing the "travel burden" for patients.
Strengthens Primary Care Gatekeeping: The 1.85 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs act as essential "gatekeepers," ensuring that only complex cases are referred upward, thus preventing the overcrowding of tertiary institutes like AIIMS.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: As RBI tests offline digital rupee transactions, what safeguards are required to prevent fraud and double spending before scaling these solutions nationally?
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