A recent report on India’s health landscape has revealed alarming trends in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with cancer cases skyrocketing across the country, as reported by PTI.
The fourth edition of Apollo Hospitals’ Health of Nation Report, released on World Health Day 2024, has named India as the “cancer capital of the world”.
According to the report, one in three Indians is prediabetic, two in three are prehypertensive and one in ten suffers from depression. The prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders has reached a critical level, which significantly affects the health of the country.
India: New ‘Cancer Capital’
Of particular concern is the rise in cancer cases, which has surpassed the global rate and earned India the title of “cancer capital of the world”. The report warns of a potential health care crisis as conditions such as pre-diabetes, pre-hypertension and mental health disorders manifest at younger ages.
The most common cancers in India are breast cancer, cervical cancer and ovarian cancer in women. In men, the most common cases are lung cancer, mouth cancer and prostate cancer.
Notably, the median age for cancer diagnosis is lower in India than in other countries, but despite this, the country’s cancer screening rate remains very low, the report said.
The urgent need for medical examinations
The report emphasizes the importance of regular health checkups and highlights their role in reducing the risk of heart disease by monitoring blood pressure and body mass index levels. While awareness of the importance of health checks is growing, there remains a need to expand their reach across India.
Dr. Preetha Reddy, Vice-Chairman, Apollo Hospitals, emphasized the importance of a collective solution to NCDs. She emphasized the need for a nationwide effort to effectively combat these diseases through education and personalized preventive health care solutions.
