Non-communicable disease
Also called: NCD, NCDs, National Action Plan for NCDs · Topic: Human Capital: Education, Health and Demographic Dividend · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
A non-communicable disease (NCD) is an illness that does not spread from one person to another. Hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, heart disease, cancer and chronic lung disease are common examples. NCDs usually develop slowly and last a long time. Diet, lack of exercise, tobacco, alcohol and ageing all raise the risk. They matter for human capital because they shorten working lives and lower productivity. They also bring long, costly treatment, and in India much of that is paid out of pocket, meaning directly by families. India has a national action plan for NCDs, and one of its goals is to cut how much salt people eat.
Example
Hypertension is linked to eating too much salt, so India's NCD plan asks people to use less salt. This creates a policy conflict with double-fortified salt (salt with iodine and iron added), which is promoted to fight anaemia. That salt delivers enough iron only if people keep eating plenty of salt.
Don't confuse with
- Communicable disease: spreads from person to person or through carriers like mosquitoes or dirty water (for example TB, malaria and cholera). Vaccination, clean water and sanitation are the main tools against these. Prevention of NCDs depends more on lifestyle, early screening and long-term care.