Close to 80 lakh people in Kerala were screened for lifestyle diseases and of them around 20 per cent were found to have hypertension or diabetes, state Health Minister Veena George said.

George said early detection and treatment of the diseases would prevent complications in future. "By early detection and treatment of lifestyle diseases and cancer, the diseases can be treated and cured without complications," she noted. Of the close to 80 lakh people screened, around 20 per cent were found to be at risk of serious illnesses, the minister said in a release.

Besides that, more than 5 lakh people were referred for suspected cancer, she said. George said the screening was carried out across the state as part of the government's campaign to control lifestyle diseases by detecting and treating them early.

For this Rs 10 crore was set aside in the budget for development of the country's only scheme for lifestyle disease control and related activities, the minister said. The campaign and the screening launched by the state to prevent lifestyle diseases has become a role model in the country in the field of health.?

An app was also developed with the help of eHealth for screening of people above 30 years of age by going to their homes, she added.

Out of a total of 79,41,962 people screened so far, 19.97 per cent (15,86,661) fell under the risk factor group for any serious disease, 11.02 per cent (8,75,236) had hypertension, 8.88 per cent (7,05,475) diabetes and 3.88 per cent (3,08,825) were suspected to have both, the minister said in the release.

A Cancer Screening Dashboard was also developed as part of the Cancer Control Strategy and through this 6.49 percent (5,15,938) have been referred for suspected cancer, she said. Free diagnosis and treatment is provided to those who need it, she added.