Keralam Tackles NCDs With New Care Initiative

Keralam is set to launch the Hridayaragam initiative to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This new program prioritizes a care continuum, aiming to prevent patients from being lost to follow-up within the health system.

The state, experiencing rapid epidemiological changes due to an aging population and lifestyle shifts, faces a significant NCD challenge, with roughly one in four adults having diabetes and one in three experiencing high blood pressure. Past NCD control programs have struggled to move beyond initial screening and detection.

Hridayaragam will categorize individuals by risk, directing preventive efforts toward low-risk groups and ensuring regular specialist consultations for moderate and high-risk patients. The system will actively track these individuals, manage appointments, and ensure timely, appropriate care, utilizing digital health records.

A defining feature is its 'care coordination' approach, ensuring patients receive correct treatment at the right time without unnecessary hospital hopping. Each newly diagnosed patient receives a health diary for structured follow-up on adherence, lifestyle changes, and complication prevention.

The initiative will initially pilot in Vattiyurkavu (urban), Idukki (rural), and Nilambur (semi-urban/urban) constituencies. This pilot aims to gather implementation evidence for refining the program before a statewide rollout.