The Health Department is planning to conduct free regular screening of individuals aged over 30 for diabetes and blood pressure across the state through Primary Health Centres (PHC).
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here on Friday, Health Minister U T Khader said a pilot project will soon be launched in Kolar and four other districts and the initiative will soon be taken to other parts of the state.
“The purpose is to spread awareness about diabetes and blood pressure and how it is important to monitor and control it,” he said. “It is better to prevent these diseases rather than spend later on treatment as it is also not possible to open more hospitals in the state.”
With over 65 million living with diabetes in India, three million-plus people die of hypertension and related illnesses every year, according to information available.
Meanwhile, another group of doctors are planning to conduct a screening programme for sugar and blood pressure to ascertain the seriousness of the problem.
Dr Sanjiv Agarwal, founder of Diabetacare, a city-based diabetes centre, told reporters that 10,000 individuals will be screened in Farangipete, a village near Mangalore, in coordination with the Department of Health and Family Welfare.
“The camps will be held in the PHC at Farangipete and people aged over 30 will be tested. We will also conduct intervention and educate them on how they must manage the disease,” he said. “If the model works, we are looking forward to working with the government in helping people manage the disease at an optimised cost,” he added.