Srinagar, April 20 (UNI) India is witnessing a sharp rise in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, with a prevalence of 19.3 per cent among young women, affecting nearly 44 million individuals according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The study, conducted under the Indian Council of Medical Research Task Force and coordinated nationally by Director Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences and noted endocrinologist M. Ashraf Ganie, is being described as the world’s largest assessment of PCOS, marking a major global contribution to understanding the disorder’s scale and complexity.
Experts say the burden is even higher in Kashmir. Speaking at an international conference at SKMIS, Dr Yoginder Gupta noted that Kashmir faces an even greater challenge, with nearly 30 percent of the population affected by PCOS, indicating a disproportionately high regional burden.
Gupta emphasized that such alarming figures call for collective, multi-sectoral action, stating that PCOS can no longer be addressed in isolation.
He commended the pioneering research led by Prof Ganie, noting that the extensive data generated at SKIMS has been instrumental in shaping national and global understanding of the disorder, including its medical and social implications.
He further noted that the research has enabled the Indian Council of Medical Research to undertake multifactorial studies, addressing not only clinical aspects but also the stigma and broader societal consequences associated with PCOS.
The two-day international conference, which concluded on Sunday, brought together leading national and international experts to deliberate on the growing burden of PCOS, endocrine disorders, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are increasingly being termed a global epidemic.
Chief Guest Dr. Manilka Sumanatilleke, chair-elect International Diabetes Federation ( South East Asia Region) & president of the Sri Lanka Medical Association and the Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka, highlighted that PCOS remains a neglected health issue in several countries. He noted that exposure to the scientific sessions and clinical research at SKIMS has provided valuable insights, which he intends to take back to strengthen healthcare responses in her country.
In his address, Prof Ganie, who is also president of the M.P-PCOS Society outlined key dimensions including the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, the societal role in addressing PCOS, and SKIMS’ contributions through research and clinical excellence.
He emphasized the need for evidence-based policymaking and highlighted the institute’s growing academic stature at national and international levels.
