Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lieutenant General K.T. Parnaik (retired) on Saturday, 9 May raised alarm over the growing prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases in the state, noting that conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular ailments are increasingly affecting people across all age groups. The Governor made these remarks during a meeting with AIIMS Guwahati President Bhupendra Kumar Singh Sanjay at Lok Bhavan in Itanagar.

Key Concerns Raised

Governor Parnaik expressed particular concern over the rising burden of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, stress-related disorders, and cardiovascular ailments across Arunachal Pradesh. He stressed that these conditions, once associated primarily with urban adults, are now cutting across age groups — a trend that officials say warrants urgent, region-specific intervention.

The Governor emphasised the importance of preventive healthcare, calling for dedicated studies and research initiatives to identify causes rooted in the socio-cultural and geographical conditions unique to the Northeast. He urged AIIMS Guwahati to recommend practical remedies tailored to the region rather than applying generic national frameworks.

What the Governor Asked of AIIMS Guwahati

Lieutenant General Parnaik specifically requested AIIMS Guwahati to share modern healthcare innovations, research findings, and best medical practices with health officials and medical institutions across Arunachal Pradesh. The goal, he said, is to strengthen healthcare delivery, improve diagnostic capabilities, and enhance patient care at the state level.

He also underlined the need to introduce the latest technologies and advanced medical research into the state's healthcare ecosystem — a signal that the administration views technology adoption as central to bridging the healthcare gap in a geographically challenging, largely remote state.

AIIMS Guwahati's Response

Bhupendra Kumar Singh Sanjay, a renowned orthopaedic surgeon and Padma Shri awardee, assured Governor Parnaik of AIIMS Guwahati's full cooperation in strengthening healthcare collaboration with the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) in Arunachal Pradesh. He also presented the Governor with his book titled 'Bharat Mein Sadak Durghatnayen', published by the National Book Trust.

Background and Context

AIIMS Guwahati was established under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY) in May 2017, as part of the Centre's push to expand tertiary healthcare infrastructure in underserved regions. Its role as a referral and research anchor for the Northeast makes it a natural partner for state-level health initiatives. This meeting signals a renewed push to leverage that partnership specifically for lifestyle disease research and prevention in Arunachal Pradesh.

Notably, the Northeast as a region has seen a marked rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) over the past decade, driven by shifting dietary patterns, sedentary lifestyles, and limited access to early diagnostic care. Arunachal Pradesh, with its dispersed population and difficult terrain, faces compounded challenges in rolling out preventive health programmes at scale.

With AIIMS Guwahati's assurance of collaboration, the next step will be whether a structured research and outreach framework is formalised between the two institutions — and how quickly findings translate into on-ground healthcare improvements for residents of the state.