Azad for compulsory blood tests to check diabetes

In a major initiative to check diabetes, the Centre is contemplating compulsory blood tests for the entire population of the country.

In a major initiative to check diabetes, the Centre is contemplating compulsory blood tests for the entire population of the country.

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Set to be floated under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the new project will seek to cover the entire population, specially the urban and rural poor, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told PTI.

"I have asked the department of research to formulate a plan and may be we will also look into the feasibility of a public-private partnership mode for this," he said.

According to him, the symptoms of diabetes are not recognised in villages and thus people just keep on taking non-prescription medications like Cronin to cure themselves.

Azad contended that "81 per cent of diabetes can be cured just by taking precautions such as changing food habits, exercising regularly and changing other lifestyle causes.

"Thus for the have-nots or the poor people this will be a boon as they can control their blood sugar just by taking these measures if they know of their condition," he said.

Azad, however, agreed that the project was a costly one and needed enormous funds. "This a very costly affair. I have contacted external agencies and private organisations also".