New Delhi: How well is the sub -center of India (SCS) equipped – the state aid system that arrive for the first time people facing health issues – especially in rural India, to manage basic medical conditions like high blood pressure, or hypertension, and diabetes?A team of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a survey for this purpose in 19 districts of seven states by a team of researchers, others did not portray a very flattering picture. According to the results of the survey published in the latest issue of the Indian Journal of Medical Research (IJMR), only 4 out of 10 sub-centers are in the treatment of high blood pressure and diabetes, the rest also do not have basic medicines to manage conditions.One of the 105 SCS was evaluated, in about one-third of the tablet metformin (anti-diabetes drugs) had stock-outs, and about half (45%) reported stock-outs of tablet amlodipin, which was used to manage high blood pressure. The average duration of stock-out for drugs ranged from one to seven months. “These drugs were better available in Govt medical colleges than any other level of public health facilities,” said the IJMR report.The survey also revealed a shortage of experts at the Community Health Center (CHC) level – it was also revealed in the 2020-21 Rural Health Statistics Report, which showed doctors (82%) and surgeon (83%) in CHCS.“(The) ICMR-India Diabetes Study (ICMR-India) reports evidence of the epidemic of a non-communicable diseases spread in rural areas in addition to urban areas besides urban areas due to changes in lifestyle. Therefore, SC will further enhance the primary care services close to people’s homes.”He said: “The Government of India has already intensified its efforts to strengthen the wider primary health care (CPHC) to get universal health care by achieving resources and efforts through the Prime Minister’s chief Ayushman Bharat Health and Welfare Program.”India has the second highest number of adults (20–79 years) with diabetes in the world, and in 2019, about 3% of the total deaths in India were attributed to the disease. The number of people suffering from high blood pressure is also increasing. Experts say that easy access to drugs to manage two conditions in the initial stages can help prevent serious complications and reduce the risk of negative personal, social and economic consequences.
