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.

Dr Anoop Mishra, Chairman, Fortis Centre for Diabetes, Obesity & Cholesterol (C-DOC), 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 Programme has done a lot to combat diabetes in the country, a more organised strategy is required to be devised to curb its upsurge. 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 is reported there.”

Dr Mahipal S Sachdev, Renowned Ophthalmologist, Chairman, Centre for Sight, Chain of Eye Hospitals, said, “The advancement in the fields of cataract, refractive surgery, glaucoma, age-related retinal macular degeneration, and myopia degeneration is imminent. The application of AI can also simulate and see what is the quality degradation of the vision of an individual.”

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.”

Cardiologist, Prof (Dr) Mohsin Wali said, “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.”