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Union government has asked the states to to utilise data generated at the district level during screening for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to identify a priority group that is expected to receive Covid vaccinations early next year: those below the age of 50 with comorbidities
What are the documents used for the screening?
- The basic document for determining the age will be the electoral roll, which will provide states with age details of beneficiaries.
- The states will superimpose this basic document with the NCD screenings that they have conducted.
- The states can also create their own mechanisms, as health is a subject of the state
Who is given the priority if a vaccine is available?
Recently, a high-level expert group co-chaired by Dr V K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, and Union Health Secretary, recommended three groups to be simultaneously vaccinated on priority depending on availability of vaccine they are:
- 1 crore health care workers
- 2 crore frontline workers, including police and armed forces; and
- about 27 crore above the age of 50 and those less than 50 years with comorbidities.
What are the options available for screening?
Following options can used for screening
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS)
- Under NPCDCS which was launched in 2010, state governments are mandated to undertake population-based screening at the district level for early detection of NCDs.
- Under NPCDCS, those who come to healthcare facilities undergo “opportunistic screening” for detection, referral and follow-up for hypertension, diabetes and select cancer categories.
- As of now, 616 NCD clinics have been set up at the district level and 3,827 at the Community Health Centre (CHC) level, apart from 175 Cardiac Care Units (CCUs) and 214 Day Care Centres for Chemotherapy.
Community-Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC)
- As part of the Ayushman Bharat initiative, states use a Community-Based Assessment Checklist (CBAC) for universal screening in the 30-plus age category to sensitise and mobilise the community to avail services for chronic illnesses at Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)
- This checklist is designed to collect details of history of symptoms and includes family history of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and presence of common symptoms for common cancers, epilepsy and respiratory diseases.
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS)
NPCDCS has a focus on awareness generation for behaviour and life-style changes, screening and early diagnosis of persons with high level of risk factors and their referral to appropriate treatment facilities i.e. Community Health Centres and District Hospital for management of non-communicable diseases including cardiovascular diseases. The strengthening of infrastructure for screening, early detection, treatment and referral is also envisaged.
Objectives
- Health promotion through behaviour change with involvement of community, civil society, community based organizations, media etc.
- Screening at all levels in the health care delivery system from sub-centre and above for early detection of diseases covered under the program including management and follow up.
- To build capacity at various levels of health care for prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, IEC/BCC, operational research and rehabilitation.
- To provide logistic support for diagnosis and cost effective treatment at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of health care.
- To support for development of databases of NCDs through the Surveillance System and to monitor NCD morbidity and mortality and risk factors.
