NCD Surveillance Unit

The NCD Surveillance Unit at the World NCD Federation is a pioneering entity dedicated to advancing the science and practice of noncommunicable disease (NCD) surveillance through cutting-edge methodologies, digital innovation, and strategic collaborations. Established in response to the growing burden of NCDs in India and globally, the Unit plays a central role in providing high-quality, population-level data that informs policy, program design, and monitoring efforts.

Vision

To establish a robust, scalable, and sustainable NCD surveillance ecosystem that enables timely, accurate, and actionable data to support effective NCD prevention and control across populations.

Background and Mandate

Launched under the leadership of leading public health experts at the World NCD Federation, the Surveillance Unit responds to the critical need for data-driven decision-making in the fight against NCDs. With NCDs accounting for over 70% of global deaths—and a significant share of morbidity and mortality in India—the demand for reliable data on behavioral and biological risk factors has never been greater.

In line with the WHO Global NCD Monitoring Framework and India’s National Multisectoral Action Plan for Prevention and Control of NCDs, the Unit’s work supports:

• Monitoring trends and determinants of major NCDs and their risk factors
• Evaluating progress toward national and global NCD targets
• Strengthening the capacity of public health systems for data generation and
  utilization

Core Functions

The Surveillance Unit performs a wide range of technical, analytical, and implementation roles, including:

• Designing and conducting large-scale NCD risk factor surveys using standardized methodologies like the WHO STEPS approach.
• Developing digital surveillance tools, notably the mSTEPS platform, India’s first mobile-based data collection tool for NCD surveys.
• Providing technical assistance to governments, academic institutions, and international agencies for survey planning, implementation, and analysis.
• Generating scientific evidence through peer-reviewed publications and reports that contribute to the global knowledge base on NCD epidemiology and surveillance.
• Building capacity through development of survey manuals, training modules, and workshops to strengthen the public health workforce.

Strategic Contributions

Over the last decade, the NCD Surveillance Unit has led or contributed to several milestone initiatives, including:

• Punjab NCD Risk Factor Survey (2014–15) – the first in India to pilot a paperless tool (mSTEPS).
• Haryana STEPS Survey (2017–18) – the first full-scale mobile-based STEPS survey in India.
• Haryana Repeat STEPS Survey (2024–25) – enabling trend analysis over time.
• National NCD Monitoring Survey (NNMS) – technical inputs for tool testing and standardization.
• Development of training manuals, data collection protocols, and resource kits aligned with WHO standards.

 Collaborations and Partnerships

The Unit works closely with:

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
• State health departments
• Academic and technical institutions

These collaborations ensure scientific rigor, policy alignment, and the utility of data for health system strengthening.

Impact

The work of the NCD Surveillance Unit has informed:

• State NCD action plans
• National health policy formulation
• Capacity-building for decentralized data collection
• Scientific literature on NCD risk factor epidemiology in India

The Unit’s innovative tools and methodologies are increasingly being looked at as models for replication in other low- and middle-income countries seeking to strengthen their NCD surveillance frameworks.