In a major achievement and recognition of the country’s efforts in the fight against hypertension, India has won a UN award for its ‘India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI)’, a large-scale hypertension intervention under the National Health Mission. IHCI was recognized for its exceptional work within the existing Indian primary healthcare system. Dr. Union Health and Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya lauded the healthcare initiative in a tweet: “IHCI has strengthened PM @NarendraModi Ji’s mission to ensure health and well-being for all”. We are determined to build a healthy and fit India, he further noted.
IHCI, a joint initiative of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), State Governments and WHO-India, won the ‘2022 UN Inter-Agency Task Force and WHO Special Prize for Primary Health Care’ at a side event of the UN General Assembly held on September 21, 2022 in New York, USA. The award recognizes India’s outstanding commitment and action towards:
- prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and
(ii) provision of integrated people-centred primary care. The UN Task Force has identified an organization that has a multi-sectoral approach in the prevention and control of NCDs and multi-sectoral action with proven results in primary care for the prevention and control of NCDs and related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The importance of the initiative can be judged from the fact that one in four adults in India has high blood pressure. Controlling hypertension at the level of the primary care system will help reduce deaths from heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure.
The IHCI was able to leverage and strengthen the existing health care delivery system, the National Health Mission’s hypertension control interventions, and improve linkages between the population-based screening initiative and health care. The initiative was launched in 2017 and has gradually expanded to cover more than 130 districts in 23 states. Under the initiative, more than 34 thousand people with hypertension are being treated at government health facilities, including the Ayushman Bharat Health Wellness Center (HWC).
Project strategies are easily scalable within the healthcare system. Strategies include a simple standard treatment protocol for a specific dose of medication, ensuring adequate amounts of medication are logged, decentralization of care with follow-up and medication refilling at Health Wellness Centers, task sharing involving all medical staff, and real-time executive information. a system that can monitor each patient to monitor and control blood pressure. According to the IHCI, almost half of those treated had their blood pressure under control.
The IHCI complements the National Program for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. IHCI accelerates the achievement of the Government of India’s goals by ensuring continuity of care and strengthening the ongoing ‘Ayushman Bharat’ programme.
