Include non-communicable diseases for surveillance: India

India today suggested that non- communicable diseases (NCDs) be included in health surveillance systems, saying a global coordination mechanism should be established for them.
The coordination mechanism should be part of NCD action plan indicators, and terms of reference should be set for the UN inter-agency task force on NCDs, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said in his address at the third BRICS health ministers' meeting here.
India can contribute in critical areas like health financing, health services administration, institutional reforms and appropriate use of available medical technology, he said.
The BRICS group comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa is an association of five major emerging economies and represents about 43 per cent of the world's population. It is acting as a new growth and governance pole in a multi-polar world.

Azad also stressed the need for enhanced cooperation among BRICS nations and said the grouping has emerged as a valuable forum for consultation and cooperation on contemporary global issues of mutual interest.
He proposed India's help in medical education and training, capacity building, quality healthcare at an affordable cost, biotechnology, drug discovery and development, development of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines, and traditional Indian medicine.

Being the lead country for thematic area health surveillance system, Azad offered to hold a workshop in India of key stakeholders in March-April 2014 to map the best possible way forward.
He also offered to arrange visits to some Indian states to show the surveillance system for disease control programmes.

Others present at the meet included South Africa's Health Minister Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi, Brazilian Health Minister Alexandre Padilha, Russian Healthcare Minister Veronika Skvortsova and Chinese Health Minister Li Bin.
The first BRICS health ministers' meeting was held in Beijing, China, in July 2011.