As Kerala becomes the capital of lifestyle diseases
Although Kerala has made unparalleled achievements in the field of public health, its health model has come under adverse analysis and criticism from various quarters in the wake of the continuous outbreak of infectious and emerging diseases.There is no doubt that regardless of which health-related indicators are examined—such as maternal and infant mortality rates, life expectancy, or vaccination coverage— Kerala’s performance is far better than that of most other states. Not only that, this performance is often comparable to that of the Scandinavian countries, which rank among the best in the world. Even so, certain fundamental weaknesses can be identified in Kerala’s health model. One of them is the unscientific distribution of healthcare systems and facilities. A historical flaw of this model is that healthcare infrastructure and services diminish as one moves from Travancore to Malabar. Another major health challenge facing Kerala at present is the uncontrolled spread of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs take many forms, with cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) being the most significant. According to the World Health Organization, 41 million people die every year worldwide from various NCDs. In India, available data show that Kerala is among the three states reporting the highest burden of NCDs. It is also evident that Kerala has emerged as a diabetes hotspot in the country. It is doubtful whether the authorities have paid sufficient attention to this trend, which represents one of the most pressing health crises currently facing the state.Also Read:Kerala issues surgical safety protocol after medical lapsesThe latest edition of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) serves as a clear warning about this health crisis in Kerala. The Family Health Survey is the most reliable and authoritative source of data in the country on health, population, nutrition and family welfare. Prepared on the basis of surveys conducted during 2023–24, the report provides an accurate picture of Kerala’s socio-health situation. It reveals two faces of Kerala. The first is the familiar story of high educational attainment, low child marriage rates, strong maternal and child healthcare services, widespread banking access and women’s empowerment. The second is the growing prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity. In one sense, the first is unsurprising, as it reflects the continuation of achievements Kerala has attained over the years. The second, however, is deeply concerning, as it contains dangers significant enough to undermine those very achievements. The report states that nearly one in five people in the state has diabetes. In Kerala, 28 per cent of women and 31 per cent of men are taking medication for diabetes. The national average, by comparison, stands at 17 per cent. In 1991, only about 35 people per lakh in Kerala died due to diabetes. By 2022, that figure had risen to 70. In other words, diabetes-related deaths have doubled over the past three decades. A few years ago, the leading medical journal Lancet published a study that validated these findings. The study found that diabetes is spreading across Kerala irrespective of whether people live in rural or urban areas. Half of the state’s population aged 20 and above is at risk of developing the disease. While diabetes was once primarily associated with people above the age of 50, it is now increasingly being detected among those in their 30s.Also Read:Chronic lifestyle diseases now kill more Indians than infections: studyAnother concern emerges when population trends are taken into account. Because life expectancy in Kerala is high, nearly one-fifth of the population is made up of elderly people. At the same time, the birth rate has declined. In other words, the proportion of children and young people in the state is shrinking. A significant number of these young people are also affected by lifestyle diseases such as diabetes. This will have serious implications for Kerala’s future. The time has truly come to prevent such an outcome. The authorities must formulate immediate preventive measures based on the findings of the latest Family Health Survey. The state government is already implementing programmes such as Amritam Arogya as part of its efforts to prevent NCDs. However, the initiatives undertaken so far are unlikely to be sufficient to address the alarming findings highlighted in the new survey report. Therefore, the government and the Health Department must wake up to embark on a new, comprehensive and large-scale mission.
