Advancing Public Health Through Building Physician Capacity for Salt Reduction and Low Sodium Substitutes

Excessive sodium intake is a major contributor to hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), posing a persistent public health challenge. Physicians, as trusted health advisors, are central to promoting salt reduction strategies in routine clinical practice. This study describes a physician capacity-building initiative conducted by Sapiens Health Foundation in three metropolitan cities of India: Chennai, Mumbai, and Delhi, between June 2024-February 2025. The workshops aimed to strengthen physician knowledge and counselling skills regarding dietary salt reduction and the use of low-sodium salt substitutes (LSS). Each workshop featured expert presentations, interactive discussions, and evidence-based educational resources. Evaluation methods differed by location: Chennai and Mumbai used structured feedback forms, while Delhi implemented pre- and post-training assessments to measure knowledge gains. Findings showed that while many physicians were aware of the WHO's recommended salt intake, gaps remained in areas such as hidden salt sources, sodium-to-salt conversions, low sodium salt (LSS) substitutes and appropriate use of LSS in clinical practice. Post-training results indicated improved knowledge across all cities, with statistically measurable gains in Delhi. This initiative demonstrated that structured workshops can enhance physician capacity in salt reduction and dietary counselling and encourage them to act as advocates within clinical and community settings. Integrating such training into medical education and aligning it with national public health strategies can help reduce salt consumption at the population level. Wider adoption of this model, supported by digital learning tools, could improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of NCDs in India.