Mental Health included in Non-communicable Diseases List at Ministerial Conference in Moscow

First Ministerial Conference on Healthy Lifestyles and Non-communicable Disease Control was organised in Moscow by World Health Organisation on 28 and 29 April 2011. At the conference mental disorders was included in the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) list at India’s insistence. India achieved a major success on the global platform by pushing for inclusion of mental health in the list of non-communicable diseases. Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad led the Indian delegation to Moscow.

Mental health as a NCD was adopted in the Moscow Declaration on 29 April 2011. It was agreed that that NCDs such as mental disorders significantly contribute to the global disease burden.
The principal non-communicable diseases as discussed in the conference are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases. These non-communicable diseases are the leading causes of preventable morbidity and disability and currently cause over 60 per cent of global deaths, 80 per cent of which occur in developing countries. By 2030, the NCDs are estimated to contribute to 75 per cent of global deaths.

Mental disorders will now form part of the global agenda and get attention. It will also be brought up at the World Health Assembly in Geneva scheduled to be held in May 2011, and at the United Nations Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases to be held in September 2011.

Mental Health Policy by India

India is currently working towards framing a mental health policy based on internationally-accepted guidelines. While framing the policy India will take into account the draft Mental Health Care Bill, 2010.

A 12-member policy group responsible for framing the National Mental Health Care Policy and Plan will prepare a situational analysis of the need for mental health care in the country. The group will take into account the issues of human resources, essential drug procurement and distribution, advocacy, prevention, and rehabilitation of mental health patients.

The evidence-based policy drafted in this respect will state the guiding values, principles and objectives of such a policy and identify priority areas for action. The plan will be drafted keeping in mind the National and District Mental Health Programmes and will recommend specific strategies and activities for implementation in priority areas of action as identified in the National Mental Heal Care Policy.