India's nationwide population-based screening programme has revealed the growing burden of lifestyle-related diseases, with nearly one in six people screened found to have hypertension and about one in nine diagnosed with diabetes, underscoring the scale of the country's non-communicable disease (NCD) challenge.
The data were shared by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda while addressing the 10th convocation of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) in New Delhi.
According to the figures, more than 42 crore people have been screened for both hypertension and diabetes through the network of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs. Of these, over 7.3 crore were diagnosed with hypertension, representing a detection rate of about 17.4%, while nearly five crore were found to have diabetes, accounting for around 11.9% of those screened.
The findings suggest that a substantial number of individuals were living with these chronic conditions without being diagnosed, highlighting the importance of large-scale preventive screening and early detection.
The screening programme has also expanded to common cancers. More than 35 crore people have been screened for oral cancer, leading to the detection of over 2.3 lakh cases. Breast cancer screening has covered more than 16 crore women, identifying over 86,000 cases, while nearly one lakh cervical cancer cases have been detected among more than nine crore women screened.
Nadda said the figures demonstrate the growing role of preventive healthcare in India's public health strategy. More than 1.85 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have been established across the country as the first point of contact for healthcare services, significantly expanding population-based screening and facilitating early diagnosis of non-communicable diseases.
"A Viksit Bharat is not possible without a Swasth Bharat. Preventive healthcare, timely screening and early diagnosis will remain central to our healthcare strategy in the years ahead," he said.
Addressing the graduating students, the minister said the government's healthcare strategy has moved beyond creating hospitals and medical colleges to building an ecosystem that supports medical education, research and quality patient care.
He said India has invested in both the "hardware" and "software" of the health sector. While the hardware comprises hospitals, medical colleges and healthcare infrastructure, the software includes policy support, research, academic excellence and institutional capacity.
"The strength of a healthcare system lies not only in creating institutions but in building an ecosystem where excellence in education, research and patient care can flourish," he said.
Nadda also stressed that expanding the healthcare workforce would be critical to meeting the needs of India's growing population and strengthening healthcare delivery.
Commending ILBS for its contribution to liver care and research, he said the institute has played an important role in raising awareness about fatty liver disease, an emerging public health concern driven by obesity, metabolic disorders and changing lifestyles.
He urged the graduating doctors to uphold the highest standards of professional ethics and compassion.
"You are entering the profession at a time when India's healthcare system is undergoing rapid transformation. Your knowledge and skills must ultimately serve society with compassion, integrity and the highest standards of medical ethics," he said.
The convocation conferred degrees and academic distinctions on graduates from super-speciality and allied disciplines, including hepatology, transplant medicine and liver sciences.
