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Health Advocacy: REACH Hosts Media Roundtable on Non-Communicable Diseases

posted by Nilesh Waghela

Mumbai – REACH (Resource Group for Education and Advocacy for Community Health) organized a pivotal roundtable in Mumbai today to address the growing challenge of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in India. The event brought together health professionals, journalists, and patient advocates to discuss strategies for tackling the escalating NCD burden and the media's critical role in shaping public awareness, prevention, and policy.

Opening the session, Ms. Anupama Srinivasan, Deputy Director of REACH, set the tone for a day of insightful discussions, emphasizing the importance of bridging the gap between science, media, and the general public. The event highlighted how responsible media reporting can reshape narratives around NCDs, including prevention, treatment, and healthcare policies.

The first session, moderated by Dr. Sukriti Chauhan, featured expert panelists including Dr. Vandana Dhamankar, Deputy Director General – Medical Affairs at the Indian Cancer Society; Dr. Usha Sriram, Senior Endocrinologist and Founder of DIWAS; and Dr. Supriya Arwari, Senior Gynaecologist at Supreme Hospital. The panel underscored significant gaps in early diagnosis and treatment, particularly for women and underserved communities. Dr. Sriram stressed the importance of research focused on gender differences in health outcomes, stating, "There’s an urgent need to invest in research focused on women and gender differences in health outcomes, so we can move towards personalized medicine."

Dr. Arwari highlighted the need for early awareness, especially among adolescents, noting that nearly 70% of NCDs diagnosed in adulthood are linked to lifestyle habits formed during adolescence. She called for more media coverage on adolescent health, advocating for social media as an effective tool to engage young people.

In her remarks, Dr. Dhamankar emphasized the importance of shifting the narrative around cancer, explaining that the term “cancer” often evokes fear. She suggested that the media could play a pivotal role in changing public perceptions by focusing on survivorship stories, which can help improve screening and treatment outcomes.

The roundtable also featured a moving fireside chat with Ms. Preeti Phad, a retinoblastoma survivor, who shared her personal journey through the healthcare system. Ms. Phad stressed the value of compassionate, person-centered care and the role media can play in reducing stigma and promoting accurate health information.

Addressing the intersection of mental health and chronic illness, Ms. Priti Sridhar, CEO of Mariwala Health Initiative, raised concerns about the growing mental health crisis in India. She called for more responsible discussions about mental health, urging journalists to approach the topic with empathy and context, particularly regarding social determinants such as gender and caste.

The day concluded with a session led by Mr. Viswanath Pilla, Senior Editor at Moneycontrol, who spoke about the importance of narrative integrity in health reporting. He stressed that journalists must prioritize accuracy, objectivity, and solutions-focused storytelling, especially in the face of misinformation and public confusion surrounding NCDs.

The roundtable reinforced the urgent need for a comprehensive, people-centered approach to combat NCDs in India, which account for over 60% of deaths nationwide. Participants agreed that prevention, advocacy, and public awareness must go hand in hand, with the media playing a crucial role in driving change. REACH reaffirmed its commitment to fostering cross-sectoral partnerships to create a more equitable and just healthcare ecosystem in India.