New Delhi: A collective of Padma-awardee doctors has issued a stark warning: India is teetering on the edge of a serious health emergency. Despite advances in medical technology and treatment, the unchecked rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer — along with insufficient preventive screening, is driving the nation toward a critical juncture.

Experts Sound the Alarm Over NCD Epidemic

At a recent Pacific OneHealth session, leading Padma-awardee physicians outlined the escalating burden of NCDs:

  • Dr. D.S. Rana, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, emphasized the need for universal healthcare and ethical regulation, particularly in drug pricing and hospital costs.

  • Dr. Praveen Chandra, Medanta’s interventional cardiology head, warned that “the heart is the common pathway for multiple diseases.” He stressed the life-saving potential of emergency angioplasty within the “golden hour” and highlighted that advanced cardiac procedures are now increasingly accessible — even for older patients.

  • Dr. Anoop Misra, Chair of Fortis C-DOC Hospital for Diabetes and Allied Sciences and former AIIMS professor, expressed deep concern over diabetes: “One in three Delhi residents is diabetic, with another 30 percent pre-diabetic … Prevention and early control are critical.” He noted that while medications like Ozempic show promise, lifestyle changes remain the most powerful tools.

  • Dr. Mohsin Wali advocated for “trust-based care,” pointing to his hospital’s own non-profit model as a blueprint for humane, accessible healthcare.

  • Dr. Swadeep Srivastava, co-founder of Pacific OneHealth, reiterated that healthcare must shift from privilege to promise, anchored in ethics and innovation, with equitable access across preventive, primary, and tertiary levels.

    • The Core Concern: Prevention Falls Behind

    The experts collectively highlighted a worrying disconnect: while India boasts undeniable progress in cutting-edge treatments, the surge in lifestyle-related illnesses—unchecked and underdiagnosed—poses an existential threat to public health. They called for a recalibrated focus on preventive care to avert this looming crisis.