Diabetes is the most common ailment people are getting screened for in the health checkup camps set up by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the 38th India International Trade Fair (IITF),
“Out of 10 people who are coming for the checkups, at least six are getting screened for diabetes,” a senior official said on Thursday.
Interestingly, in nearly half of the people who have been screened positive for the disease, the chances of false positive results are higher, the officer added.
“This is a fair, an event, so, people are usually coming for the checkups after having heavy meals whereas the diabetes test is usually done on an empty stomach. In such a scenario, some false results are also coming,” the official said.
To tackle this, patients are being counselled and are being advised to go to their nearby Government or private hospital, he added.
According to the official, till Wednesday, more than 20,000 people were screened for diabetes, cancer, Body Mass Index (BMI) and hypertension in the camps. The number is less this time. In previous years, people who would get screened for the diseases per year were more than 1 lakh.
“The camps are being organised since 2014. Every year, more than 1 lakh people would get screened but this time, the number is very less,” he said.
This time, four free health checkup camps have been set up by the ministry while three are for diabetes, hypertension, cancer screening and BMI; one camp has been set up especially for dental and cancer screenings, the official informed.
In each camp, 160 medical personnel have been engaged on shift basis. This includes 25 doctors, 12 senior paramedics, 10 medical students and 35 students of Medical Laboratory Technician Course, added the official.