Lessons for addressing noncommunicable diseases within a primary health-care system from the Ballabgarh project, India.

BACKGROUND Most patients with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) can be managed appropriately at the primary care level, using a simplified standard protocol supported by low-cost drugs. The primary care response to common NCDs is often unstructured and inadequate in low- and middle-income countries. This study assessed the feasibility of integration of NCD prevention and control within the primary health-care system of India. METHODS This study was done among 12 subcentres, 2 primary health centres (PHCs) and one subdistrict hospital in a block in north India. All 28 multipurpose health workers of these subcentres underwent 3-day training for delivering the package of NCD interventions as a part of their routine functioning. A time-motion study was conducted before and after this, to assess the workload on a sample of the workers with and without the NCD work. Screening for risk assessment was done at domiciliary level as well as at health-facility level (opportunistic screening), and the cost was estimated based on standard costing procedures. Individuals who screened positive were investigated with electrocardiography and fasting blood sugar. PHCs were strengthened with provision of essential medicines and technologies. RESULTS After training, 6% of the time of workers (n = 7) was spent in the NCD-related activities, and introduction of NCD activities did not impact the coverage of other major national health programmes. Loss during referral of "at-risk" subjects (37.5% from home to subcentre and 33% from subcentre to PHC) resulted in screening efficiency being lowest at domiciliary level (1.3 cases of NCDs identified per 1000 screened). In comparison to domiciliary screening (₹21 830.6; US$ 363.8 per case identified), opportunistic screening at subdistrict level (₹794.6; US$ 13.2) was 27.5 times and opportunistic screening at PHC (₹1457.5; US$ 24.3) was 15.0 times lower. There was significant utilization of NCD services provided at PHCs, including counselling. CONCLUSION Opportunistic screening appears to be feasible and a cost-effective strategy for risk screening. It is possible to integrate NCD prevention and control into primary health care in India.