National Programme, Plan of Action and other steps identified to tackle Fluorosis

The need for a National Programme for the treatment of Fluorosis and drawing up a Plan of Action were agreed on at a meeting convened by the Commission with senior Officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in New Delhi on 1 November 2004.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Justice A.S. Anand, Chairperson of the Commission expressed serious concern over the fact that 66 million people in 19 States and 196 Districts in the country are affected by Fluorosis. He also said that a concrete policy is needed to deal with the issue in all its dimensions, which include prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment. He observed that the health problem of Fluorosis is a human rights issue and the State has an obligation to address it with the Commission acting as a facilitator.
In addition, the Health Secretary, Shri J.V.R. Prasada Rao stated that his Ministry would ask the Medical Council of India to include in the syllabus of interns a module on detection of Fluorosis and related issues. He also promised that the issue of Fluorosis would be taken up at the next meeting of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare scheduled in December, which would be attended, by all the State Health Ministers and Health Secretaries. He also stated that the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Communicable Diseases would develop standardized treatment guidelines on Fluorosis.
Besides the Health Secretary, Dr. S.P. Agarwal, Director General Health Services, Dr. Shiv Lal, Addl. D.G., Health Services & Director, National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Dr. Rakesh Mittal, Deputy Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research and Prof. (Dr.) A.K. Susheela of the Fluorosis Research and Rural Development Foundation attended the meeting. It was also decided to encourage the use of ion meters in every district for detection of Fluoride content and adoption of de-fluoridation techniques at the domestic level.