Non-Communicable Diseases emphasize the importance of active media engagement
REACH (Resource Group for Education and Advocacy for Community Health) convened an impactful Roundtable on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Mumbai, bringing together leading health practitioners, the media, and patient advocates to address the escalating burden of NCDs in India. The event spotlighted the critical role of the media in reshaping narratives around NCD prevention, care, and policy accountability. The day opened with a welcome address by Ms. Anupama Srinivasan, Deputy Director, REACH, setting the stage for a powerful series of discussions that bridged personal experiences, medical insights, and the role of responsible media storytelling.
The first session, moderated by Dr. Sukriti Chauhan, with panelists 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 discussion highlighted systemic gaps in early diagnosis and treatment, particularly among women and underserved communities. Calling attention to the need for gender-responsive healthcare frameworks, Dr Usha Sriram highlighted, “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. Media reporting must amplify preventative messages using gender-responsive frameworks.”. Discussing the importance of early awareness among adolescents, Dr Supriya Arwari stated, “Nearly 70% of non-communicable diseases diagnosed in adulthood can be traced back to lifestyle habits formed during adolescence, yet health reporting seldom highlights this. There is an urgent need to raise awareness about adolescent health, and social media must be leveraged as a powerful tool to reach and engage young people effectively.”
Emphasizing on greater collaboration between medical professionals and media to amplify awareness, Dr Vandana Dhamankar stated, “The word ‘cancer’ evokes fear and is often equated with a death sentence. In our experience of working with the communities at the Indian Cancer Society, we have realised that we must simplify our messaging and leverage the media channels available to spotlight survivorship and lived experiences that offer hope, which can drastically improve screening and treatment outcomes.”
This was followed by a fireside chat between Ms. Preeti Phad, a retinoblastoma survivor, and moderated by Ms. Manasi Prabhakaran. Ms. Phad shared her lived experiences navigating the healthcare system, emphasizing the value of compassionate, person-centered care. She emphasized how media can serve as a powerful tool in reducing stigma and disseminating credible health information, especially when it centers real stories and lived realities.
In a session highlighting the intersection of mental health and chronic illnesses, Ms. Priti Sridhar, CEO, Mariwala Health Initiative, addressed the silent pandemic of mental health in India. Emphasising on the integration of psycho-education, she highlighted, “Since the pandemic, everyone wants to talk about mental health—but we must ask, are we talking about it responsibly? Mental health doesn’t exist in isolation, and is shaped by social determinants like gender and caste. Sensationalism must be replaced with contextual, compassionate storytelling, grounded in professional expertise and lived experiences.”
This was followed by a session with Mr. Viswanath Pilla, Senior Editor at Moneycontrol, where he emphasized the importance of narrative integrity and humanizing health stories. Encouraging fellow journalists to view health reporting as a public service, he shared, “We are living in the age of information overload and misinformation. Journalists must return to the golden principles of journalism: objectivity, factual accuracy, and unbiased reporting. Always refer to credible experts and verify your sources, while spotlighting solutions. Awareness, access, affordability, and quality of treatment for NCDs must be highlighted. ”
Throughout the day, a strong call to action resonated across sessions: India’s growing NCD burden—responsible for over 60% of deaths nationwide—demands a holistic, people-first approach. Prevention, advocacy, and public awareness must go hand in hand, and the media holds enormous power in shaping these narratives. This roundtable reaffirmed REACH’s commitment to fostering cross-sectoral partnerships and building a health ecosystem rooted in equity and justice.
