When updated operational guidelines and training modules to combat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were released on September 27, 2024, Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra emphasized the condition’s growing public health issue. Between one and three out of ten people in India, according to Chandra, have been diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This highlights the link between NAFLD and metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes, which can result in serious health problems, including cardiovascular diseases.
The updated rules represent a major advancement and demonstrate the Indian government’s dedication to addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which cause over 66% of all deaths in the nation. Given that NAFLD’s prevalence varies widely in the community, depending on age, gender, and socioeconomic level, it is imperative to recognize it as a significant non-communicable illness. Its prevalence ranges from 9% to 32%.
According to Chandra, these recommendations would provide a thorough framework that will enable healthcare professionals at all levels—from medical officers to community health workers—to identify and treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The recommendations encourage healthcare providers to support health and wellness programs that can lower the disease’s incidence, emphasizing the value of early identification and lifestyle changes.
Punya Salila Srivastava, the Union Health Ministry’s Officer on Special Duty, emphasized that in order to guarantee early detection and lessen the toll that NAFLD takes on the healthcare system, grassroots healthcare providers must be made aware of these principles.
The director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, Dr. S.K. Sarin, expressed hope that these guidelines will result in major advancements in the management of liver health in the years to come. He emphasized the link between heart disease and diabetes as well as other NCDs and liver function.
In addition, the operational guidelines support a multidisciplinary approach to NAFLD management, fostering cooperation between medical professionals from different specialties. The goal of this holistic care approach is to provide patients with all-encompassing assistance, from disease education to successful lifestyle modification.
Moreover, the training package that goes with it is intended to help medical practitioners become more proficient in managing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It includes a number of topics, such as standardised treatment guidelines, screening techniques, risk factors, and epidemiology. The goal of the integrated care techniques, early identification, and patient education is to improve the health outcomes of those with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
In summary, the proactive steps taken by the Indian government to combat non-communicable diseases (NAFLD) indicate that the condition has the potential to become a silent epidemic and that there is an immediate need for efficient treatments to manage and prevent it in the larger context of the rise in non-communicable diseases.
SOURCE :
THE PRINT
