The State government has decided to set up Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) clinics at all taluk and district hospitals. The NCD programme, launched in the State in 2012, has so far covered only the rural areas with once-a-week clinics in all primary and community health centres. The government will provide Rs.1 lakh each per institution to set up 100 more clinics in towns and cities. Glucometers and other equipment required will be provided by the government and doctors will be posted to places where no clinics are functional. Apart from the State’s programme, five districts in the State are also running the Union government’s programme, National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDS). “Kerala will be the first State in the country to extend the programme to all the 14 districts under the programme,” said Dr. Bipin Gopal, State Nodal officer for NCD.
