With the WHO and World Economic Forum forecasting a grave threat to the health of humans in the shape of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) becoming pandemic by 2030, it is necessary to take precautions against their incidence.
The NCDs — diabetes, cancer, heart problems and infections — would cost the developing and underdeveloped countries $30 trillion and India having a large incidence of these diseases, would bear one-sixth of the cost, $5 trillion.
Most of the affected would be in the productive age of 30-50 years, said Chairman of Apollo Hospitals Prataph C. Reddy.
He was addressing a press conference held on Friday on the eve of the inauguration of Apollo Hospital’s building to house a 250-bed super speciality facility at the Health City, Arilova by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday.
“The nation has to take care of NCDs. More importantly awareness has to be created and every individual has to understand that he or she take care about health first and undergo tests. I also hope a positive action from the Central Government in controlling NCDs,” he said.
The Apollo Hospitals has taken up the task of informing people how to avoid a major health problem and if needed provides treatment with the help of specialists round-the-clock at its state-of-the-art facilities, he said.
It has introduced an incentive to those regularly undergoing health check, which includes gene test (DNA) by awarding Rs. 2 lakh insurance cover for staying healthy.
The new hospital would have the state-of-the art equipment along with specialists in several super specialities and paramedical staff. Apollo Hospitals has invested Rs. 150 crore on the facility.
Its inauguration was delayed due to damage caused by the October 2014 Hudhud cyclone. It is now running a facility in the city established in 1999 providing mainly super speciality care for heart and kidney patients.
Cancer hospital
Dr. Reddy also announced that a separate cancer hospital with 100 beds and latest equipment would be ready adjacent to the hospital at Health City.
Apollo hospitals are providing health care on par with the facilities in the advanced nations with a very good success rate at around one sixth of the cost, he said.
