Statement by Permanent Representative of India, Ambassador Asoke K. Mukerji, during the High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the review of the progress achieved in the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (July 11, 2014)

Madam President,

I thank you for convening this important high level meeting of the UN General Assembly.

NCDs have emerged as the leading cause of disability and death globally. They impact productivity and impoverish the society due to burgeoning health expenditures. They are posing a mounting challenge to health care practitioners and policy makers.   

Madam President,

 India broadly aligns itself with the statement made by Bolivia earlier, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

The National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke, launched in India in 2010 as a pilot project in 100 districts was later extended to all 640 districts of our country with projected budget of US$ 2 billion for the 2012-17 period. Approximately US$ 900 million have additionally been allocated for strengthening comprehensive cancer care. The priority areas are:

1. Creating general awareness about NCDs and promotion of healthy life style habits, with involvement of community, civil society, media etc.
2. Screening for diabetes, hypertension and common cancers; and establishing referral mechanisms for follow up.
3. To build capacity for prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, operational research and rehabilitation at all levels of health care.
4. A monitoring framework has been established, with 10 targets and 21 indicators to be achieved by 2025, to track morbidity & mortality, risk factors and national systems response on NCDs.

Another important endeavor is to revitalize the primary health care to integrate communicable and non-communicable diseases response.

Madam President,

India s technology innovations have led to affordable health care not only for us but also for many other countries. These include the development of re-combinant human insulin, poly-pill for prevention of cardio-vascular and stroke events, clot buster to enhance efficiency and a heart valve for rheumatic heart disease. 

The NCDs pose enormous development challenges for developing countries, with the poor being disproportionately affected. We must therefore address barriers which restrict access to affordable and newly developed medicines. It is vital to ensure universal access to medicines, including through the full use of the flexibilities contained in the TRIPS Agreement and the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health.

We also need to share resources, technical expertise and best practices to improve capacity, accessibility and affordability of health care in a collaborative manner to combat NCDs. I would like to thank the World Health Organization for their Global Action Plan on NCDs.

Madam President,

We believe that these issues should be included in the formulation of the post-2015 Development Agenda.

Madam President,

In conclusion, let me reaffirm India s strong commitment to the Political Declaration of 2011 as well as the outcome document of this meeting. 

Thank you.