TS: Experts call for primary healthcare to tackle hypertension

Hyderabad: With Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) emerging as a key area of concern, there is an urgent need to step up efforts to effectively tackle serious health problems caused by hypertension in states like Telangana to safeguard the physical and financial wellbeing of the people,  said top medical practitioners and policymakers at a media dialogue here today.
Emphasising the need to adopt a focussed and coordinated approach in addressing the issue at a ‘Media Dialogue on Hypertension Management and Elimination of Trans Fatty Acids in Telangana’ organised by Delhi-based not-for-profit organisation Consumer Voice here, they said the media has a vital role in this process since creation of awareness is crucial in early detection and management of NCDs, especially heart diseases.
Delivering the keynote address at the event, Smt A Shanti Kumari IAS, Principal Secretary (Health & Family Welfare) and Food Safety Commissioner, Telangana, said providing total medical care is an area of the prime focus of the Telangana Government and management of hypertension is a key component in that.
Shanti Kumari, also Principal Secretary (Health, Family Welfare), said the three-pronged approach, comprising early screening through outreach followed by a dispensation of secondary and tertiary medical care, adopted by the State Government has proved effective in managing hypertension.
Medicines are made available at all levels of healthcare centres across the state since regular review and dispensation of medicines are important. As part of this, one month’s medicines are provided to patients so that they remain on treatment.
“Healthcare has always been at the centre of the Government of Telangana. We are never shy to take good models from other parts of the country also,” she added.