To bring to the fore how the healthcare in India has evolved in 75 years of independence, a galaxy of Padma Awardee Doctors deliberated on the health issues that the Indian population is up against, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), eye care, and other NCDs during Health4all episode-46 organised by HEAL Foundation, suggesting the measures, which may turn out a fillip needed to make India – the world’s healthcare leader.

Deliberating on the current status and the rising incidence of diabetes in India, Dr Anoop Mishra, Chairman Fortis Centre for Diabetes, Obesity & Cholesterol (C-DOC), Padma Shri Awardee, said, “A 10-Year Commission with Dedicated Mission is required to tackle the upsurge of diabetes in India because the current pattern of efforts in the direction of eliminating diabetes in India needs to be reimagined. Though National Diabetes Program has done a lot to combating diabetes in the country, a more organised strategy is required to be devised to curb its upsurge.”

Adding further to the Indian context, Dr Misra said, “Younger people in India are getting diabetes, especially, the obese ones, which is worrisome. The age of 30 was set for screening for diabetes in 2011 by the National Diabetes Control Program, but now considering the rate of incidence, early screening and diagnosis of diabetes should begin at the age of 25. Lifestyle disorders majorly contribute to the incidence of diabetes, and states like Kerala and Delhi are found to harbour poor lifestyle, hence the high rate of incidence of diabetes are reported there.”

Examining the evolution of eye care in India after 75 years of independence, during Health4all episode-46, Dr Mahipal S Sachdev, Renowned Ophthalmologist, Chairman, Centre for Sight, Chain of Eye Hospitals, Padma Shri Awardee, said, “In the last 3-4 decades, India has made significant progress in eyecare. The precision of eye care delivery and the outcome has improved incredibly. The advancement in the fields of cataract, refractive surgery, glaucoma, age-related retinal macular degeneration, and myopia degeneration is imminent. Overall, eyecare in India has progressed swiftly because every part of the eye can be seen very clearly, and laser treatment is available for precise treatment, and due to betterment of diagnostics the reach for treatment has improved.”

Adding to the advancement of technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on eye care, Dr Sachdev said, “Artificial intelligence has entered the field of cataract surgery in several ways, the first of which is the diagnostics of cataracts; for instance, if you go to the mall and click a picture, it can determine the degree of opacity and the colour of the cataract to determine if surgery is necessary. The application of AI can also simulate and see what is the quality degradation of the vision of an individual.”

Speaking on how interventional cardiology has evolved in India after 75 years of independence,  Dr Balbir Singh, Chairman, Cardiology, Max Hospitals, said, “India is at the forefront of research in cardiology worldwide but making indigenous products is what we are lacking and it needs to be improved. Fainting due to arrhythmia which is called syncope, is the sudden loss of consciousness, anybody standing or sitting suddenly black out and falls and it is because of loss of muscular tone. It can be simple which happens in children or very dangerous arrhythmia, that may tell that the person is at high risk for sudden death. They should be investigated and treated. Syncope is one the most important causes of sudden death. And sudden death is the most common cause of death of cardiac patients in India and worldwide.”

Speaking about the state of cardiology in India after 75 years of independence, Prof (Dr) Mohsin Wali said, “The government has brought many schemes over time to make their heart healthy, still people are not serious about it. The ICMR conducted a very large study and found that 45 percent of people are inactive. Even those who go to the gym, don’t focus on cardiac health they focus on bodybuilding. Heart health includes rhythm disorders, vascular diseases such as hypertension, and vascular-related diseases such as strokes. Despite preventive education, there are many causes for the onset of CVDs such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, psychological stress, poor food consumption, alcohol, smoking, dyslipidemia, etc. There are more causes than the steps taken for prevention so we are lagging.”

After 75 years of Independence, still, India is a global disease burden leader – the share of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has almost doubled since the 1990s and is a major reason for worry.