From NHM to NPCDCS: Epidemiological Transition and Need for a National Program for Diabetes in India

It is time we understand the need for disease/s specific programs and not just theoretical frameworks like the National Health Mission (NHM) or National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke, through mixing of programs. Off course, each of these programs can benefit from the strengths of other programs, for example, a program on diabetes can benefit from a fully operational Integrated disease surveillance program (IDSP) or vice versa. A disease specific program is also important because the numbers which diseases like Diabetes or Cardiovascular diseases throw up individually is huge. Importantly these diseases are and will continue to be major contributors of mortality.