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Non-Communicable Diseases: Challenges and Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic


Affiliations
1 THB: Technology | Healthcare | Big Data Analytics, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
2 Medical Writer, THB: Technology | Healthcare | Big Data Analytics, Plot No. 7 (2 bays), Institutional Area, Sector 32, Gurgaon 122003, India
     

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Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In India, more than 2/3rd of the total deaths are reported due to NCDs in the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region. Since after the outbreak of COVID-19, as per WHO, 122 countries reported disruptions in NCD health services. NCDs remain undiagnosed due to lack of knowledge and inadequate access to health care. Role of primary care and family physicians can help in early detection and protection against NCD; patient education plays a crucial role in raising awareness of NCDs and their effect on wellbeing. Undertreatment of NCD has become a serious public health issue. Many factors like expenditure for service structure, lack of skilled health workers, periodic review and follow-ups, limited access to essential medicines lead to undertreatment of NCDs. For successful management of NCDs, a multi-disciplinary approach is required that involves adequate knowledge of the disease, adherence to the treatment regimen, follow-ups. People living with NCDs are impacted by COVID-19 pandemic like a disruption in health care services, mental health disorder, reduced physical activities. Many strategies like telemedicine, triaging, the novel supply chain for NCD medicines, and redirection of patients with NCDs to alternate health care facilities are direly needed to be deployed to overcome disruptions in LMICs.

Keywords

Non-communicable Diseases, COVID-19, NCDs, Underdiagnosis, Undertreatment.
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  • Non-Communicable Diseases: Challenges and Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

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Authors

Manmohan Singh
THB: Technology | Healthcare | Big Data Analytics, Gurgaon, Haryana, India
Parul Lal
Medical Writer, THB: Technology | Healthcare | Big Data Analytics, Plot No. 7 (2 bays), Institutional Area, Sector 32, Gurgaon 122003, India

Abstract


Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In India, more than 2/3rd of the total deaths are reported due to NCDs in the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region. Since after the outbreak of COVID-19, as per WHO, 122 countries reported disruptions in NCD health services. NCDs remain undiagnosed due to lack of knowledge and inadequate access to health care. Role of primary care and family physicians can help in early detection and protection against NCD; patient education plays a crucial role in raising awareness of NCDs and their effect on wellbeing. Undertreatment of NCD has become a serious public health issue. Many factors like expenditure for service structure, lack of skilled health workers, periodic review and follow-ups, limited access to essential medicines lead to undertreatment of NCDs. For successful management of NCDs, a multi-disciplinary approach is required that involves adequate knowledge of the disease, adherence to the treatment regimen, follow-ups. People living with NCDs are impacted by COVID-19 pandemic like a disruption in health care services, mental health disorder, reduced physical activities. Many strategies like telemedicine, triaging, the novel supply chain for NCD medicines, and redirection of patients with NCDs to alternate health care facilities are direly needed to be deployed to overcome disruptions in LMICs.

Keywords


Non-communicable Diseases, COVID-19, NCDs, Underdiagnosis, Undertreatment.

References