How Vitamin D deficiency is undermining India’s health and what policymakers can do – Firstpost

As India is grappling with a widespread yet largely unrecognised public health issue: Vitamin D deficiency, which currently affects one in every five citizens, the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) has submitted a comprehensive roadmap to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) alongside a Delhi-specific action plan to the Delhi government to tackle the crisis.

The submissions, framed as policy briefs draw from a joint study titled “Roadmap to Address Vitamin D Deficiency in India,” co-authored by ICRIER researchers and Dr. Aashish Chaudhry of ANVKA Foundation and Aakash Healthcare. The study highlights that Vitamin D deficiency is no longer confined to specific groups but affects people across all regions, ages and socio-economic classes, making it a nationwide concern.

“Vitamin D deficiency is not just a minor health issue; it is a hidden epidemic that weakens the foundation of good health,” said Dr. Chaudhry. “From children’s growth to women’s maternal health and mobility in the elderly, Vitamin D deficiency affects everyone. Yet it is one of the easiest deficiencies to prevent and treat if addressed timely.”

ICRIER’s recommendations to the MoHFW include launching a nationwide “Vitamin D Kuposhan Mukt Bharat” campaign, modelled after the successful Anaemia Mukt Bharat initiative. The campaign aims to raise awareness, promote sunlight exposure, encourage the consumption of fortified foods and ensure testing and supplementation are affordable and accessible.

The policy brief also calls for creating a multi-stakeholder platform to coordinate ongoing efforts, integrating Vitamin D initiatives into existing healthcare programmes, leveraging national survey data for targeted interventions and standardising guidelines for testing and treatment across India.

For Delhi, the recommendations focus on actionable steps that can be implemented immediately. These include mass testing, public awareness drives and the integration of Vitamin D supplementation into existing health schemes. Training frontline workers, such as ASHA and Anganwadi personnel, and ensuring supplement availability in mohalla clinics are also highlighted as key measures.

“Our recommendations for Delhi focus on practical steps that can be implemented right away, using existing health networks, local partnerships, and awareness campaigns,” said Dr. Arpita Mukherjee, Professor at ICRIER and lead author of the reports. Dr. Mukherjee said, “Delhi can become a model city for a ‘Vitamin D Kuposhan Mukt Bharat’ campaign with focused action.”

Experts emphasise that tackling Vitamin D deficiency aligns with India’s broader preventive healthcare vision under the Ayushman Bharat programme. “By taking early, coordinated action, India and Delhi can reduce disease burden, improve public health outcomes, and ensure that everyone from infants to the elderly receives the sunshine vitamin they need for a healthier life,” said Dr. Chaudhry.

As the country tackles this silent epidemic, policymakers and healthcare providers are urged to prioritise Vitamin D awareness and intervention strategies to safeguard the nation’s long-term health.