Pravin Togadia dons doctor's hat, avoids political queries

NAGPUR: Pravin Togadia, known more as a fiery VHP leader than a qualified cancer surgeon, today donned the doctor's hat at a media interaction here when he said a third of India's population suffers from lifestyle disease and avoided political queries.

Nearly one-third of Indians, or about 40 crore people, suffer from lifestyle-related diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart ailment and they spend a whopping Rs 14 lakh crore on medical treatment, said the International Working President of VHP.

Addressing the press conference here, Togadia, who is also a cancer surgeon but is known more for for his fiery speeches, declined to answer queries related to politics or on the Modi government.

"Right now people's health is my priority and I am working to create awareness on medical issues through a huge network of health ambassadors and over 3,000 doctors who have joined India Healthline to give voluntary services," he said.

"For the past three years I am concentrating on medical research on issues like de-addiction and affordable treatment for lifestyle diseases through my India Healthline Mission," said the oncologist.

He is here to attend a two-day meeting of the VHP that began today at Reshimbagh Grounds.

Togadia claimed as per WHO and London School of Economics reports, 40 crore Indians, or one third of the population, suffer from lifestyle-related diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart ailment.

They spend USD 236 billion (Rs 14 lakh crore) on medical treatment. If remedial steps are not taken urgently, the number of patients may double in the next 20 years, he cautioned.