Calls for Affordable Early Detection
Vinod Bhat
CHENNAI, April 12: In his inaugural address at the 4-day “Gleneagles Liver and Transplant International Summit” (GLTS 2025) held here today, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, a noted diabetologist and professor of medicine, emphasized the need for affordable disease detection options. He stated that all stakeholders, including the public and private sectors, need to collaborate in this effort.
Dr. Singh sounded a wake-up call regarding the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases in India, highlighting the urgent necessity for affordable and accessible early detection of conditions such as fatty liver and diabetes, which he termed “silent epidemics” threatening the nation’s youth.
Speaking at the summit, Dr. Jitendra Singh noted, “Every third Indian is found to have fatty liver, and one in every three or four hospital patients is diagnosed with underlying diabetes.” He emphasized the impact of these conditions on India’s demographic dividend, stating, “To preserve the energies of our young population for nation building, mass detection mechanisms must be in place. However, the challenge lies in affordability, which is where the public and private sectors must unite.”
The Minister reflected on the changing health landscape in the country, where both infectious and non-communicable diseases are on the rise. “Diseases once associated with age or lifestyle are now being witnessed among the young. Fatty liver, type 2 diabetes, and even heart attacks are no longer confined to older populations,” he commented, calling for a shift from curative to preventive healthcare.
He highlighted the increasing prevalence of central obesity, particularly among Indians who, despite appearing lean, often carry visceral fat—a key contributor to metabolic disorders. Drawing attention to studies on the Indian diaspora, Dr. Jitendra Singh explained that the Indian genetic makeup poses a higher risk for such conditions, regardless of geography or lifestyle.
The Minister praised the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in prioritizing preventive health through initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, the expansion of Tata Memorial Centre’s cancer care network, and the establishment of nearly three lakh wellness centers across the country. He also acknowledged India’s achievements in the biotech and health research sectors, including the development of indigenous vaccines, gene therapy trials for hemophilia, and new antibiotics such as Nafithromycin.
Underlining the need for a “whole-of-government, whole-of-nation” approach, Dr. Jitendra Singh urged closer synergy between public institutions and private healthcare providers. “The public sector has the infrastructure and knowledge; the private sector has the resources. Together, they can bridge the gap in access and affordability,” he stated.
He concluded with a call for collective responsibility, asserting that the health of India’s youth is no longer just a concern for doctors, but a national imperative. “We cannot afford to lose the architects of Viksit Bharat 2047 to preventable diseases,” he emphasized, adding that conferences like GLTS play a crucial role in shaping policy and raising awareness.
