State launches programme to check lifestyle diseases

Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Thursday launched an initiative for the prevention, control and screening of common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the state.

Under the initiative, the minister said persons over 30 years of age will be screened for the common NCDs, including diabetes, hypertension and three common cancers — oral, breast and cervical. Screening for these diseases is an integral part of service delivery under the National Programme for Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, he said.

He said the screening will be done at primary health centres, Aam Aadmi Clinics/Ayushman Arogya Kendras, community health centres, district hospitals and subdivision hospitals.