India Health Progress (IHP) and Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) will be hosting a panel discussion on ‘Non-communicable disease burden in India, sharing best practices to tackle India’s chronic disease burden’, on September 14, in Mumbai. Along with Indian Medical Association (IMA) - Maharashtra, the panel discussion aims at finding solutions to the increasing problems faced by the citizens of Maharashtra due to the fast changing lifestyles.

The event is supported by PhRMA as part of the on-going commitment of global, innovative pharmaceutical companies to be a solution partner in reducing the growing economic and social burden of chronic disease.

Some of the major issues in the state which includes high level of tobacco consumption, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and lack of physical activity, so the main focus of this discussion is to to combat chronic disease burden in the state.

IHP’s Principal Advisor Aman Gupta, said, “Widespread, fast-paced lifestyle changes and soaring stress levels have contributed to an alarming rise in NCD cases in India and other countries. Since diseases such as heart ailments, strokes, diabetes and cancer are preventable, it is important to spread awareness about their risk factors, such as high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, excess tobacco and alcohol intake, sedentary lifestyles and obesity. Preventive measures are crucial because NCDs disturb the wellbeing of families, disrupt the social fabric and lower national productivity, since many afflicted people fall within the productive age group.”

Kevin Walker, Executive Director, PFCD: “In addressing the NCD threat, preventive steps are important because direct benefits apart, the indirect gains would include lower employee absenteeism resulting in increased productivity and higher GDP growth. Besides, the benefits from lower death and disease rates simply cannot be quantified in pure monetary terms. Events such as these help maintain the focus on the dangers of NCDs, which otherwise can be easily ignored or underestimated.”

The panel discussion will see experts from diverse fields discuss and deliberate issues related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) while highlighting some of the best practices to mitigate this burden.

Speakers on the panel include: Dr Jamshed Dalal, director-Cardiac Sciences, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Dr Prakash C Gupta, Director, Healis – Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health, Dr Sandhya Kamath, Dean, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College, Dr Jayesh Lele, State Secretary, Indian Medical Association – Maharashtra, Dr Salil Shinde, Therapy Lead - Cardiovascular & Diabetes, Medical and Research Division, Pfizer Limited, Kevin Walker, Executive Director, Partnership to Fight Chronic Diseases, Aman Gupta, Advisor, India Health Progress.

Recommendations from healthcare experts will be compiled in a report and presented to the Government and healthcare authorities.