Top Medical Practitioners and policy makers on 25th September highlighted about Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) emerging as a key area of concern in Telangana.

They said there is an urgent need to step up efforts to effectively tackle serious health problems caused by hypertension in the state to safeguard the physical and financial well-being of the people. Emphasising the need to adopt a focussed and co-ordinated approach in addressing the issue at a ‘Media Dialogue on Hypertension Management and Elimination of Trans Fatty Acids in Telangana’ organised by Delhi-based not-for-profit organisation Consumer Voice here, they said the media has a vital role in this process since creation of awareness is crucial in early detection and management of NCDs, especially hearth diseases.

Delivering the keynote address at the event, Ms A Shanti Kumari IAS, Principal Secretary (Health & Family Welfare) and Food Safety Commissioner, Telangana, said providing total medical care is an area of prime focus of the Telangana Government and management of hypertension is a key component in that. Ms Shanti Kumari, also Principal Secretary (Health, Family Welfare), said the three-pronged approach, comprising early screening through outreach followed by dispensation of secondary and tertiary medical care, adopted by the State Government has proved effective in managing hypertension.

Medicines are made available at all levels of healthcare centres across the state since regular review and dispensation of medicines are important. As part of this, one month’s medicines are provided to patients so that they remain on treatment. “Healthcare has always been at the centre of the Government of Telangana. We never shy to take good models from other parts of the country also,” she added.

Speaking on Elimination of Trans Fatty Acids in Telangana, Dr K Shankar, Director, Food Safety, said strict implementation of regulations of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) can sharply reduce heart diseases caused by TFAs in foods. Besides enforcement of rules, the state has also taken up a programme to educate street food vendors on how to make food items and sold by them with low on fat by switching to healthy substitutes already available. The packaged food industry should also take a pledge to reduce trans fat content in their products, Dr Shankar noted.