Chandigarh, August 9: Health Minister Balbir Singh declared in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha that 40 per cent of the state’s population suffers from hypertension, marking the highest rate recorded in India. Responding to a written query from Khadoor Sahib MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura, the minister cited ICMR-INDIAB survey data to outline the state’s current health profile, noting that the national average stands at 35.5 per cent.
The information submitted to the House revealed that Punjab holds the fourth position nationally for diabetes prevalence. The state’s diabetes rate of 14.3 per cent exceeds the national average of 11 to 12 per cent, with only Goa, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu recording higher figures. Female obesity in the state has similarly expanded, rising to 30.7 per cent from a previous 24 per cent.
Addressing the root causes, the Health Department asserted that changing modern habits account for the trends in non-communicable diseases. Officials maintained that decreased physical activity due to automation, combined with higher intake of processed foods and salt, continues to impact public health metrics alongside heightened mental stress.
The report simultaneously featured findings from the National Family Health Survey, which recorded reductions in high blood pressure cases. NFHS documentation showed hypertension decreasing to 24.5 per cent among women and 26.3 per cent among men.
The state demonstrated positive outcomes in substance use and oncology figures. Punjab recorded the lowest tobacco consumption in the country at 0.1 per cent according to NFHS-6 data. Additionally, Homi Bhabha registry records placed Punjab’s cancer rate between 75 and 90 per 100,000 individuals, lower than the national standard. On measures of alcohol consumption and population, the state was ranked 21st in the nation.
