President Pratibha Devisingh Patil today emphasized the need to focus on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in the country. Inaugurating 41st annual conference of Endocrine Society of India, in Pune she pointed out that the onslaught of non-communicable diseases and their complications can be disabling.

Citing the figures of World Health Organization she said India now has about 50 million people with type 2 diabetes, more than any other nation. Osteoporosis, the single largest cause for spinal fractures, is expected to impact over 36 million people, a majority of them women.

Moreover, over 40 million Indians – 60 percent of them women – suffer from thyroid related disorders. She expressed concerns over late diagnosis of these diseases and said that our health system must assume the responsibility of not only treating people, but also guiding them about how to deal and prevent some of these medical conditions adopting a healthy and balanced life style.

She said that the endocrine system and its diseases, hormones and metabolism, has become a distinct and crucial field of specialization. Hormones produced by endocrine glands have many different functions, and several effects on the functioning of different organs in our bodies. Malfunctioning of these glands could lead to hormone deficiency or hormone excess. These can result in conditions like thyroid disorders, diabetes and osteoporosis.

President honored five doctors for their outstanding contribution in the field of endocrinology on this occasion.