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Thyroid Disorders a National Priority, Need Awareness & Research: Dr Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has declared thyroid disorders a national priority, linking them to productivity and nation-building. He urged the medical community to intensify awareness, research collaboration, and early detection, noting that over 42 million Indians are affected. The minister highlighted the severe consequences of undiagnosed conditions, including reduced workforce efficiency and irreversible harm in children from untreated maternal hypothyroidism. He also cited India's biotech progress and new research funding frameworks to bolster the public health response.

Key Points: Thyroid Health a National Priority, Says Minister Dr Jitendra Singh

  • 42 million Indians have thyroid disorders
  • Undiagnosed hypothyroidism harms workforce efficiency
  • Calls for multidisciplinary research collaboration
  • Highlights India's biotech advances and funding
2 min read

Thyroid health a national priority, time to push awareness and research partnerships: Minister

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh calls thyroid disorders a national concern, urges intensified awareness, research, and early detection for India's young population.

"Thyroid disorders are a national concern linked to productivity, demographics and nation building. - Dr Jitendra Singh"

Mumbai, Feb 9

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Monday said that thyroid disorders are a national concern linked to productivity, demographics and nation building.

Dr Singh urged the Indian Thyroid Society and the wider medical fraternity to intensify awareness, research collaboration and early detection, according to an official statement.

The minister told the endocrinologists at a conference of the Indian Thyroid Society that undiagnosed thyroid conditions, particularly hypothyroidism, reduce energy levels, workforce efficiency and long-term output in a country where over 70 per cent of the population are aged under 40 years.

As around 42 million Indians are living with thyroid disorders, Singh said the scale of the challenge demands proportionate research attention and public health response.

He called for stronger multidisciplinary coordination across life sciences, medical sciences, and allied sectors to address thyroid disorders in a comprehensive manner, adding that medical issues of this magnitude cannot be left to a single domain and require wider societal awareness and institutional collaboration.

Hypothyroidism affects nearly 11 per cent of adults and many remain undiagnosed. Undetected hypothyroidism in pregnancy causes congenital hypothyroidism and irreversible neurodevelopmental harm in children.

Further, the minister highlighted the Biopharma Shakti Mission, India's biotech advances and the establishment of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation and a Rs 1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation framework to strengthen research with private and philanthropic participation.

He cited India's progress in biotechnology, including the development of the country's first indigenously-developed antibiotic effective against resistant infections, successful gene therapy trials for haemophilia, and the rollout of the DNA vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Aman W
Good initiative, but I hope this leads to actual action and not just another conference speech. We need affordable thyroid screening camps in rural areas and schools. The stats about pregnancy complications are especially worrying.
R
Rohit P
42 million people! That's a staggering number. It directly impacts our demographic dividend if young people are low on energy and productivity. The focus on research partnerships with the private sector under the new foundation is a smart move. Jai Hind!
S
Sarah B
As someone diagnosed with hypothyroidism after years of fatigue, I can't stress awareness enough. The symptoms are so common - weight gain, tiredness - people just blame their lifestyle. More public service ads on TV and social media would help a lot.
K
Karthik V
The link to biotech advancement is promising. If we can develop indigenous solutions for diagnosis and treatment, it will reduce dependency on expensive imported medicines. Hope the Rs 1 lakh crore fund is utilized effectively for such national health missions.
M
Meera T
A very welcome step. But alongside research, we need to simplify the treatment. The lifelong medication is a burden for many. Can the government look at providing thyroid hormone tablets at highly subsidized rates or even free under Ayushman Bharat?

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