The Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) has entered into a partnership with Eli Lily to launch ‘Uday’- an intensive five year programme to fight the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCD) which will initially cover diabetes and High Blood Pressure (HBP) in the country.

Uday is funded by an unrestricted educational grant to PHFI under Eli Lilly’s US$ 30 million global initiative to tackle non-communicable diseases in four countries including India. The primary partners for ‘Uday’ in India are the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), Population Services International (PSI) and Project HOPE.

Based on the unique research, report and advocate framework, the programme is designed to demonstrate cost-effective scalable approaches for effective diabetes and high blood pressure management. It will focus on sharing results with key stakeholders, including government and the global health community to encourage adoption of the best solutions. In the first phase, the project will be implemented in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh and Sonepat in Haryana. The objective is to strengthen the diabetes and HBP care capabilities in terms of prevention, detection and effective management.

“Diabetes and its complications represent a rapidly expanding public health concern that is expected to affect 552 million people by 2030. Diabetes is no longer a disease of the rich as it affects all strata of the population. The disorder  over a long term can cause heart attacks, stroke, some cancers and several infections,” said Prof. K Srinath Reddy, president, PHFI.

Commenting on the launch, Melt Van Der Spuy, managing director, Eli Lilly and Company India, said, “We are delighted to announce the launch of Uday – under the Lilly NCD Partnership in India. Today, non-communicable diseases are a major health challenge for India and there is a pressing need to address its rising burden. That said, through Uday, Lilly will support identification of innovative solutions to contribute to this fight against diabetes in India.”

Prof. D Prabhakaran, Director Centre for Chronic Disease Control and PHFI said, “Preventive strategies are urgently required to curb the anticipated 50 per cent increase in premature death due to diabetes in the next decade. These include both health promotion to adapt the right life style and utilising simple yet effective management strategies for treating manifest diabetes.”

Chronic diseases disproportionately affect the economically disadvantaged, with 80 per cent of all NCD deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. NCDs are a major contributor to poverty and a barrier to social and economic development.

India is home to over 61 million diabetic patients - an increase from 50.8 million last year. By 2030, India's diabetes burden is expected to cross the 100 million mark as against 87 million earlier estimated. India’s diabetes burden is second to China, which has 90 million people with diabetes (2011) that will increase to about 130 million by 2030.