India’s urban non-communicable disease burden

• Aruna Bhattacharya emphasizes the need for healthy cities and primary healthcare access for marginalized communities.

• Poor urban design and rapid urbanization lead to overburdened health systems.

• Poor urban communities face a triple health burden: hazardous work environments, limited healthcare access, and financial vulnerability.

• National data shows a decline in tobacco and alcohol consumption but a rise in hypertension, diabetes, and obesity rates.

• NCDs are silent, requiring regular screening and robust health promotion.

• Lack of understanding leads to catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure and impacts family livelihood.

• Publicly-run primary health care is poor among urban marginals.

• State-level action plans for NCD health care are needed.

• Collaboration with urban local bodies, city administration, health departments, community-based organizations, experts, and think tanks is needed.