In 1990, the predominant Cause of Mortality in Tamil Nad were Diarrheal Diseases, Lower Respiratory Infections, Preterm Birth Complications, Ischaemic Heart Diseases, Tuberculosis, Neonatal Encephalopathy, and so on. In short, 5 out of 6 most common causes of death and first three most common causes of death were Infectious Diseases.

But due to the tireless services of doctors of Tamil Nadu, both in Government as well as in Private sector, We have been able to control to the infectious diseases. Fast Forward to 2016 and we see that 11 out of top 11 causes of mortality and morbidity are non communicable diseases.

Now look at the following infographic. This shows the Risk Factors for Death (Mortality) and Disability (Morbidity). Thirty years ago, people were dying from (1) Malnutrition (2) Unsafe Water (3) Sanitation (4) Airpollution

Today, these factors have been controlled and now people are dying due to (1) Dietary Risks (2) Diabetes (3) Hypertension (4) Obesity.

In short, Malnutrition was killing people thirty years ago, while Obesity and its related Diabetes, Atherosclerosis, Hypertension are killing people today

This has also led to lots of paradigm shifts. Three decades ago, most of Outpatient consultations were for Communicable diseases and a MBBS Doctor was able to manage most conditions with a steth and torch and steriliser and with minimal infrastructure. But today, with the rapid increase of non communicable diseases, the infrastructure needed to diagnose and manage has risen exponentially

The Next Paradigm Shift is the need to prevent these diseases. Prevention of Renal failure or Myocardial infarction by proper management of diabetes and hypertension is much more cheaper and safer than Renal Transplant or CABG.

But the Question is – Are we, the doctors fraternity, doing enough ?

The Sad and Bitter Answer is : No

What should we do ? Where to we Lack ? Why do we need a “Doctors Association for Control of Non Communicable Diseases” ? Let us See the Answers