Strengthening of health system capacity and service delivery with a focus on Non-Communicable Diseases in Udupi district

In India, NCDs account for approximately 60 percent of all deaths, making them a critical public health concern. The Government of India has initiated the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD) to address the major NCDs, including hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, stroke, chronic kidney disease, COPD/asthma, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) highlights the prevalence of NCDs in the Udupi District. There is a pressing need to assess the current capacity and service delivery for NCDs in Udupi District to identify gaps and areas requiring improvement. Evidence suggests that many health facilities in low- and middle-income countries, including India, lack adequate infrastructure, trained personnel, and essential medicines to provide comprehensive NCD care. Studies also point to inefficiencies in healthcare work patterns, including excessive time spent on administrative tasks, emphasizing the need for targeted policy interventions, reallocation of responsibilities, and improved work processes to streamline healthcare delivery. This study aims to Evaluate the capacity of healthcare workers in Udupi District, Propose strategies to enhance the efficiency of NCD management and Develop a scalable model to strengthen health system capacity for managing NCDs. Additionally, the PSPH research team has done the evaluation of the Grama Arogya program,  which is now merged with the Gruha Arogya Scheme launched by the Government of Karnataka, focuses on screening for common NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension, cancers, obstructive sleep apnea, and mental health conditions. This project aligns with the scheme and aims to improve early disease detection and community health outcomes.