Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday urged the states to ensure effective implementation of programmes funded by the Centre especially the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardio Vascular Diseases and Stroke.

Addressing the State Health Secretaries in a day-long review meeting for ensuring better participation by State Health Departments, Mr. Azad said in the coming years, a comprehensive approach is being planned to prevent and control major Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors.

Mr Azad warned that NCDs like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory diseases are reaching epidemic proportions worldwide and India is no exception. NCDs have silently emerged as the leading cause of death, disability and disease, the world over, including India.

The minister said to overcome the challenge of NCDs, Union Government has launched the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVDs) and Stroke last year.

He added, government's aim is to expand the programme in all 640 districts of the country in the 12th five year plan.

The Minister reiterated that the basic objective of the national programme is to ensure early detection and, therefore, treatment by creating facilities at Tertiary Care Centres, Districts Hospitals, and Community Health Centers and at Sub Centre level.

The Minister added that under the cancer component of the programme 65 Tertiary Cancer Centres (TCC) are proposed to be established. Mr Azad urged the State Health Secretaries to expedite proposals for utilising the grants in full.

Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Sudeep Bandyopadhyaya, Union Secretary of Health and Family Welfare P K Pradhan and senior officials of his Ministry were present on the occasion. Secretaries, CMOs and other senior officials from across the country also attended the meet.