Integration of Unani System of Medicine in Mainstream Healthcare for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) often called as lifestyle diseases are those non-infectious diseases which are of long duration and slow progression and can affect all age groups in one way or the other. The Global burden and threat of NCDs constitutes one of the major challenges for healthcare system in twentyfirst century. Keeping in view of the current scenario, a collaborative pilot project of Directorate General of Health Services and Ministry of AYUSH was launched namely Integration of AYUSH systems in National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) known as NPCDCS-AYUSH Integration Project. Inter alia, the project on integration of Unani Medicine in NPCDCS was officially launched by Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) in June 2016 at Lakhimpur-Kheri District (LKD), Uttar Pradesh and is being implemented in all the 17 CHCs of the district. This paper aims to highlight the strategies and achievements made during June 2016 to November 2017 (18 months) through various qualitative and quantitative indicators viz.-aviz. IEC/BCC development, training and orientations programs conducted, health lectures and monitoring visits; and population based screening, enrolment of patients for NCDs, outreach camps and yoga classes conducted; respectively. During this period 1,62,839 people were screened and 24,911 patients were enrolled for management and treatment of selected NCDs in LKD. The enrolment data suggested that among the population screened during the period, prevalence of common NCDs like diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and cancers in LKD was 6.41%, 8.07%, 0.7% and 0.06% respectively. Significant results were obtained through this analysis which clearly shows the need and acceptance of this integration model in general public. This project is the model of integration of Unani system of Medicine in mainstream healthcare and this can be replicated for other districts not only for NPCDCS but also for integration with other National Health Programmes to provide better healthcare facility in the country.