Non-communicable diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease account for an alarming 74% of all global deaths, with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) alone responsible for 32% of mortality worldwide. In India, the burden of NCDs is rising rapidly, causing 66% of deaths, posing a major challenge to both public health and the economy. The strain on healthcare systems has never been more significant, as India undergoes an epidemiological transition.
Recognizing this pressing need, the Government of India launched the National Program for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010. Initially covering 100 districts, the program expanded to 468 districts by 2012, now scaled up to (735 districts) addressing India’s rising NCD burden. Today, it is rebranded as the National Program for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD), focusing on hypertension, diabetes, and cancers—oral, breast, and cervical—targeting early detection, treatment, and continuous care.
To promote proactive health-seeking behaviour, the Government introduced Population-Based Screening (PBS) for individuals aged 30+, ensuring early identification of high-risk populations. Since the launch of NP-NCD Programme, data collection was paper based, limiting the scope for efficient interventions. This digital transformation streamlined data management, ensuring real-time insights that enable timely action and more effective NCD control.
Driving Change with Strategic Partnerships: Tata Trusts and Dell Technologies
In an effort to modernize healthcare delivery, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), partnered with Tata Trusts and Dell Technologies for driving the digital transformation of the NP-NCD program. This collaborative effort culminated in the development of the National NCD IT Platform, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the period 2018–2023. This MoU also introduced the Health Systems Transformation Platform (HSTP) to drive the program’s objectives in the second phase (2023-2025).
Targeted Monitoring for Better Outcomes: District-Specific Interventions
As part of the extended partnership, HSTP focuses on 45 districts across seven states, including Meghalaya, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. By implementing geographically specific interventions and targeted monitoring, HSTP effectively addresses the unique healthcare needs of each district, ensuring tailored approaches to bridge gaps and enhance health outcomes.
Pan-India NCD Technical Support Unit (TSU): Enabling Digital Health Transformation
The National NCD Portal’s success also relies on a robust technical backbone, driven by the Pan-India NCD Technical Support Unit (TSU). This unit works closely with national, state, and district-level bodies, offering:
With the IT-TSU operating on two levels, it ensures the smooth running of NCD applications and data management:
The NP-NCD program is more than a healthcare initiative—it’s a movement toward a healthier India. The National NCD Portal is the program’s cornerstone, enabling India to address the NCD burden effectively, ensuring a healthier future for every citizen. By integrating data from multiple levels into the PM Dashboard, the portal offers a comprehensive view of India’s NCD landscape, driving policy, intervention, and care.
The role of Technical Support Units (TSUs) extends beyond technology. By employing cascade training models, creating self-learning videos on Youtube channel, and integrating with various health systems, these units ensure that healthcare workers across the country are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively utilize digital health tools. This approach strengthens India’s healthcare system from the ground up, promoting universal, affordable, and equitable healthcare for all.
Forum for Health Systems Design and Transformation, more popularly known as Health Systems Transformation Platform (HSTP), a company licensed under section 8 of the Indian Companies Act, 2013 incorporated under the aegis of Tata Trusts.
