CHENNAI: Thyroid disorders, which are the most common endocrine disorders, affect 42 million people in India, said Dr C Vijaya Baskar, Health Minister on Thursday.
The minister was addressing a gathering of delegates at the national workshop on ‘advanced management of thyroid disorders’ organised at the Tamil Nadu Government Multi-Super Specialty Hospital. He said, about 1 in 2,640 neonates are found to have thyroid dysfunction when compared to 1 in 3,800 the world over.
Highlighting the seriousness of the disorder, the minister said a study in eight major cities revealed that one in 10 adults have some form of thyroid disorder. “Women of all age groups are most commonly affected. Those with thyroid are also at a risk of getting cardiac problems, psychological disturbances and cancer,” he said.
Pointing out that the State leads the way when it comes to healthcare, Dr Vijaya Baskar said the maternal mortality rate has reduced in the State at 68 per every one lakh live births in 2013 from 450 per one lakh live births in 1980. Infant mortality rate too has reduced over the years at 21 per 1,000 live births in 2012 from 93 in 1980. “The government is focused at making healthcare standards on par with that of developed nations,” he said.
The minister further elaborated on the response received at the Government Multi-Super Specialty Hospital in the last three months since its inauguration. He said the hospital has seen over 20,500 out-patients and over 1,800 in-patients apart from performing 203 cath lab procedures and 336 surgeries.
“The hospital has generated over `1 crore of chief minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme within three months,” he said. A book on landmark papers on thyroid disorders, Indian guidelines for management of thyroid dysfunction and depression was released.
Dr J Radhakrishnan, health secretary, Dr Rajendra Ratnoo, managing director, Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation and Dr S Geethalakshmi, director of Medical Education also spoke.