To ensure that people detected with hypertension and diabetes do not discontinue treatment, the State Health department is set to introduce the concept of a ‘treatment book’. After the usage of the book is streamlined, officials propose to send SMS reminders to patients about the next date of consultation with doctors.
Apart from basic details of a patient, the book will serve as a document containing disease readings, medicines prescribed and the next date of collection, consultation with doctor etc. Currently, the details are written on out-patient slips.
As part of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) screening programme implemented by the State government from 2018, people in the State above 30 years are screened for hypertension and diabetes.
Associated risks
If the diseases are unattended or untreated, they can lead to stroke, paralysis, kidney failure, blindness and heart diseases. The consequences can leave a person with disabilities of various degrees.
“The patients have to periodically get checked by doctor, collect medicines and take them. The treatment book and SMS would be introduced to ensure sustainability of treatment,” said an official from the State Health department.
It was learnt that such books are used for elderly patients who get checked at weekly geriatric clinics launched recently.
Officials said this will also help bring down the number of health risks associated with NCDs. Currently, around 7,600 people in Telangana undergo dialysis under Aarogyasri scheme. Failure in sustaining treatment for hypertension and diabetes will impact more patients and add to the number.
Ch. Katam Raju, medical officer at Palliative Care Centre, Choutuppal, said they came across many patients in Yadadri-Bhuavanagiri district who suffer due to paralysis.
“Due to lack of knowledge about hypertension and diabetes, they do not understand the consequences of the NCDs. Since they do not control their lifestyle, such as checking alcohol intake or refrain from smoking, the untreated diseases lead to brain stroke with paralysis and heart diseases,” Dr. Katam Raju said.
Cancer screening
Meanwhile, screening for oral, cervical and breast cancer, which was part of the NCD programme and was discontinued, will resume with training of medical officers, staff nurses and gynaecologists.
As per tentative plans, five medical officers, 10 staff nurses, gynaecologists from district hospitals from each district will be trained in screening procedures by doctors from MNJ Institute of Oncology Regional Cancer Centre, Red Hills.
The trained doctors and health staff will further train their colleagues. After completing training, they will screen patients.
