What India's national programme offers
India's National Programme for Non-Communicable Diseases invites everyone aged 30 and over to be screened for high , diabetes and three common cancers: mouth, breast and cervix. Health workers (ASHAs and ANMs) first fill in a short checklist about risk factors, and the checks are done at the nearest health centre, such as an Ayushman Arogya Mandir.
Blood pressure and blood sugar are checked every year. The cancer checks are done once in five years. The breast and cervical checks are for women, and the programme describes them for ages 30 to 65.
Checks by age
The first five rows are India's national programme. The rest are advice from societies and other countries, mainly the United States and England. They are not Indian national policy, and experts do not always agree on ages and intervals.
| Who | Check | How often | Advised by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everyone aged 30 and over | Blood pressure | Every year | India's national programme |
| Everyone aged 30 and over | Blood sugar, for diabetes | Every year | India's national programme |
| Everyone aged 30 and over | Mouth examination by a trained health worker | Once in five years | India's national programme |
| Women aged 30 to 65 | Breast examination by a trained health worker | Once in five years | India's national programme |
| Women aged 30 to 65 | Cervical screening (VIA test) | Once in five years | India's national programme |
| Adults aged 40 to 74 with no existing heart, kidney, diabetes or blood pressure condition | Heart check: blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, diabetes risk | Every five years | NHS, England |
| Adults aged 20 and over | Cholesterol | Every 4 to 6 years if no known risk factors | American Heart Association, via MedlinePlus |
| Women aged 40 and over | Mammogram (breast X-ray) | Every 1 to 2 years | US advice. WHO describes screening as usually for ages 50 to 69 |
| Adults aged 45 to 75 | Bowel (colorectal) cancer screening | Colonoscopy every 10 years, or a stool test every year | US advice, via MedlinePlus |
| Adults aged 40 and over | Eye examination | Every 2 to 4 years at 40 to 54, every 1 to 3 years at 55 to 64, every 1 to 2 years from 65 | US advice, via MedlinePlus |
From 40 and older
India's programme describes its breast and cervical checks for ages 30 to 65. For older adults, the extra checks in the table come from other countries. The NHS Health Check in England is offered every five years to people aged 40 to 74 who do not already have one of several long-term conditions. US advice, summarised by MedlinePlus, adds , eye, bowel and breast checks.
Mammograms show why ages differ. US advice starts at 40, while WHO defines as usually for women aged 50 to 69 and notes that it is impractical in many countries at present. In India's programme, a trained health worker examines the breasts instead.
When you may need checks sooner
Some people need checks earlier or more often than the table shows. The sources name these reasons:
- A close relative with diabetes, high , or breast, ovarian or bowel cancer
- Being overweight, or having had diabetes or high blood sugar in a past pregnancy
- Using tobacco in any form, including chewing tobacco and betel nut, or drinking alcohol
- Diabetes, heart disease or kidney problems, which mean blood pressure, and eyes need checking more often
Your doctor can say which checks suit you and when to start.
Do not wait for a check if you have symptoms
A check is for people with no symptoms. Do not wait for the next round if you notice a mouth ulcer that does not heal, a breast lump, bleeding between periods, after sex or after the menopause, or any change that worries you. See a doctor.
High often causes no symptoms at all, which is why it is checked even when you feel well.
Common questions
Do I need a check-up if I feel well?
That is exactly when screening is meant to happen. High blood pressure and diabetes often cause no symptoms for years, so the only way to know is to be checked. India's national programme invites everyone aged 30 and over every year for both.
Where are the national programme's checks done?
At the nearest health centre, such as an Ayushman Arogya Mandir. ASHAs and ANMs start with a short checklist about risk factors. Ask the health worker in your area, or your doctor, where and when screening is held.
If my result is normal, can I skip the next check?
A normal result is reassuring, but no test finds every problem, and new problems can start later. The national programme encourages people with a normal result to come back for annual screening. Anything new that worries you needs a doctor, whatever your last result was.
Why do the ages and intervals differ between countries?
Expert groups weigh benefits and harms differently, and health systems differ. For mammograms, for example, US advice starts at 40, while WHO describes screening as usually for ages 50 to 69. That is why this page says who advises each check.