Is India Winning the War Against Rising Non-Communicable Diseases? The latest health statistics paint a concerning picture: diabetes, heart disease, and cancer rates are climbing, impacting millions across the country. From rural healthcare access to the burgeoning urban health crisis, challenges remain significant. This week, we delve into the crucial initiatives underway – government policies, technological advancements in telemedicine, and the rising role of preventative healthcare – that aim to address this national health emergency. Experts weigh in on the effectiveness of current strategies and the critical need for increased public awareness campaigns targeting lifestyle diseases. Are these efforts enough? Explore Abtak.com's in-depth coverage on healthcare in India and discover the vital information you need to protect your well-being and the future of public health. Stay informed; stay healthy.
New Delhi: In a major medical breakthrough, scientists from Israel and the US have developed a simple blood test capable of detecting a person's risk of developing leukaemia, a deadly form of blood cancer. The findings were published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine and reported by Xinhua news agency. The new test could potentially replace the current invasive diagnostic method -- bone marrow sampling. This traditional method requires local anaesthesia and can cause significant discomfort and pain. The newly developed test offers a non-invasive alternative, using a standard blood sample to identify early warning signs. Also Read: Election Commission Conducting NRC Through Voter List Drive, Says Asaduddin Owaisi The research team from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel concentrated on myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). This age-related condition occurs when blood-forming stem cells do not develop properly and can progress to acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) -- a common and aggressive form of blood cancer in adults. Researchers discovered that rare stem cells which occasionally exit the bone marrow and enter the bloodstream can be analysed to detect signs of disease. These circulating stem cells carry valuable information about early MDS development. Using cutting-edge single-cell genetic sequencing, scientists were able to study these rare cells in a regular blood sample. This method allowed them to spot early molecular changes associated with MDS, potentially allowing for much earlier and more accurate diagnosis. The study also found that these stem cells function like a biological clock, reflecting an individual's chronological age. Interestingly, the team observed that in men, these cellular changes appear earlier than in women, which may explain why blood cancers are more frequently diagnosed in males. "The migrating stem cells can serve as a clock for our chronological age, and in males, their population changes earlier than in women in a way that increases the risk of cancer," said Dr. Nili Furer, Weizmann Institute. Researchers believe this new blood test could eventually help detect other age-related blood disorders, not just MDS or leukaemia. It may also improve early intervention and treatment outcomes in the future. The team confirmed that the blood test is currently undergoing large-scale clinical trials at various medical centres around the world to validate its effectiveness and reliability.
New Delhi [India], June 26 (ANI): In a milestone for cancer care in India, President Droupadi Murmu, formally inaugurated the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) Cancer Care Centre and interacted with cancer patients on Thursday. According to an official release, the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital is a cutting-edge facility dedicated to providing comprehensive care to cancer patients. The President ceremonially visited the premises, acknowledging the hospital's pivotal role in delivering ethical and affordable healthcare, marking a presence of pride and recognition for the institution's seven-decade-long ...Read More >
New Delhi: Eating a bowl of leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables such as spinach, kale, and broccoli could significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, especially in elderly women, according to a recent study. The research, conducted by experts from Edith Cowan University (ECU), the University of Western Australia, and the Danish Cancer Institute, found that Vitamin K1, present in green vegetables, may help prevent atherosclerotic vascular diseases (ASVD) -- a major cause of cardiovascular issues. Also Read: Helmet: Two Helmets Now Mandatory with Every Two-Wheeler Purchase: ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 22 (PTI) Cancer cases linked with obesity, previously observed as rising among the youth, could also be increasing in both young and older adults worldwide, according to a global analysis. Researchers from The Institute of Cancer Research and Imperial College London cautioned that new studies focusing solely on younger adults for rise in cancer cases should be carefully considered. The study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, which examined annual cancer incidence from 2003 to 2017 found that five obesity-related cancers -- thyroid, breast, kidney, endometr ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: India accounts for 17% of the world's population and 20% of the global disease burden, yet fewer than four percent of international clinical trials are conducted in the country. This gap means Indian patients often wait years after global approvals to access breakthrough therapies. Now, a new initiative, aligning it with Central Drugs Standard Control Organisations (CDSCO) priorities to boost participation of government sites in Phase 3 and 4 trials, has trained nearly 400 professionals, including investigators, ethics committee members and support staff to meet the global Good Cl ...Read More >
Cancer NEXT 2024, co-hosted by Bharath Advanced Therapeutics and the Federation of Asian Biotech Associations, is set for 30th November 2024 in Hyderabad. The conference will highlight cutting-edge oncology advancements, featuring breakthrough therapies in AML and CML, sentinel research presentations, and awards celebrating impactful contributions to cancer research. Cancer NEXT 2024, a significant oncology research conference, will take place on 30th November 2024 at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad. Organized by Bharath Advanced Therapeutics (BAT) and the Federation of Asian ...Read More >
Mumbai: Dr Reddy's Laboratories has entered into a collaboration with Reykjavik, Ireland-based biotech company Alvotech to co-develop, manufacture and commercialise a biosimilar version of blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda for the global markets. Keytruda (generic name is pembrolizumab), manufactured and marketed by Merck & Co, is the most successful medicine, recording worldwide sales of $29.5 billion in 2024. It is used to treat multiple forms of cancer. Under the terms of the agreement, both companies will be jointly responsible for developing and manufacturing the biosimilar candidate and ...Read More >
New Delhi: Veteran actor and filmmaker Anupam Kher had a proud moment at the premiere of his directorial 'Tanvi The Great', but it was the rare red carpet appearance of his wife, Kirron Kher, that truly tugged at heartstrings. Kirron, dressed in a classic red embroidered salwar suit paired with bold silver jewellery and a matching handbag, walked in holding her husband's hand, her first major public outing in a while. Joining them was their son, Sikander Kher, completing the family picture. The trio appeared at the film's premiere on Thursday evening in Mumbai, and videos of the moment have ...Read More >
Hyderabad: AstraZeneca Pharma India, a subsidiary of British-Swedish pharma giant AstraZeneca Plc, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Telangana govt to introduce AI-powered lung cancer screening across 20 public health facilities.The move is aimed at improving early detection of the disease in both urban and rural areas.As part of the collaboration, the screening will deploy Indian startup Qure.ai's AI-enabled chest X-ray solution to help clinicians identify high-risk pulmonary nodules, a key precursor of lung cancer, along with 29 other lung conditions, AstraZeneca said.Patient ...Read More >
The Telangana government has issued orders making cancer a notifiable disease, mandating compulsory registration and reporting of all diagnosed cases across the State as part of a move to strengthen surveillance and public health response. The order was issued by Health Secretary Christina Z. Chongthu on Monday. The order said that at present only institution-level cancer registries exist in Telangana, including Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) and the Mehdi Nawaz Jung Institute of O ...Read More >
NewsVoirBengaluru (Karnataka) [India], August 12: DKMS Foundation India, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders such as thalassemia and aplastic anemia, celebrates siblinghood this marks Raksha Bandhan, with two unique brother-sister pair.Two young children, Ayan Khan and Papali Gaan were battling with a blood disorder called thalassemia major, but their siblings saved them by donating their blood stem cells.India faces a pressing healthcar ...Read More >
A major Chinese clinical study on ovarian cancer has been published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, one of the world's highest-impact medical journal, marking a first for a Chinese researcher-led gynecological cancer trial, researchers said in Beijing on Sunday. The phase III FZOCUS-1 study tested fluzoparib, a PARP inhibitor developed by Chinese pharmaceutical giant Hengrui Pharma. The trial evaluated the drug as a "maintenance" therapy, treatment given to prevent cancer recurrence afte ...Read More >
New Delhi, April 3 (SocialNews.XYZ) Scientists have found that those living with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have a 71 per cent higher risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs) or death from any cause (all-cause mortality) compared with those not living with OSA. New research, to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026, Istanbul, Turkey, May 12-15), is a collaboration between Imperial College Health Partners; Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK; and Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly). "In adults, obstructive sleep apnea is linked to higher risk of cardiovascular even ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 28 (SocialNews.XYZ) A team of Israeli and US researchers have developed a simple blood test that can detect a person's risk of developing leukaemia -- a deadly blood cancer. In the study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, the researchers suggested that this test may replace the current more invasive method of bone marrow sampling used to diagnose certain blood cancers, Xinhua news agency reported. The team led by researchers from Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel focused on myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) -- an age-related condition in which blood-forming stem ce ...Read More >
New Delhi, Apr 3 (PTI) Ninety four per cent of childhood cancer deaths and 85 per cent of new cases occur in low and middle-income countries, highlighting persistent inequities in healthcare access and treatment, according to a global analysis published in The Lancet journal. Total childhood cancer deaths in 2023 were estimated at 17,000 in India, 16,000 in China, and about nine thousand each in Nigeria and Pakistan. The analysis of data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) also estimated 377,000 new cases of childhood cancer worldwide in 2023, resulting ...Read More >
Nagpur: Eminent neurologists from the city joined experts from across the globe on World Brain Tumour Day to raise awareness about the disease.At an event held at the Indian Medical Association (IMA) headquarters in Nagpur, specialists emphasised the importance of early diagnosis, discussed symptoms and treatment options, and highlighted the multifaceted challenges faced by patients and their families.Renowned neurologist and Padma Shri Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram stressed the need for timely detection and comprehensive care. He said awareness about the type of brain tumour and its symptoms is c ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) Over 15 million people in the world born between 2008 and 2017 might develop gastric cancer at some point in life, with India contributing the second highest number among these cases, after China, a study has projected. Two-thirds of the more than 15 million projected cases could be concentrated in Asia, followed by the Americas and Africa. Researchers, including those from the International Agency for Research on Cancer -- the World Health Organisation's cancer agency -- analysed data on the incidence of gastric cancer across 185 countries using the GLOBOCAN 2022 data ...Read More >
New Delhi, Nov 17 (PTI) Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and Indian Railways Finance Corporation (IRFC) have set up country's first Single Cell Omics Translational (SCOT) research laboratory, officials said on Monday. Equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation, the SCOT lab will facilitate early diagnosis, disease prognosis, biomarker discovery and drug screening across a spectrum of diseases -- including cancer, cardiovascular, infectious, inflammatory, metabolic, and other non-communicable diseases, they said. IRFC is providing a CSR grant of Rs 10.83 crore to establish this lab, ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 15 (VOICE) New machine learning-based screening method is 98 pc effective in detecting the earliest sign of breast cancer, according to a study.Developed by researchers at the University of Edinburgh the fast, non-invasive technique combines laser analysis with machine learning. It is the first of its kind to identify patients in the earliest stage of breast cancer, they said, noting that it may pave the way for a screening test for multiple forms of cancer. The technique can pick up subtle changes that occur in the bloodstream during the initial phases of the disease -- known ...Read More >
Hyderabad: A brain tumour diagnosis often triggers fear -- not just from the disease but from the invasive treatments that follow. Surgery, radiation, long hospital stays and uncertain outcomes overwhelm patients and families. But this World Brain Tumour Day on Sunday brings new hope, as doctors highlight emerging non-invasive therapies that could transform care. Advances in medical technology are introducing targeted, non-surgical treatments that promise better outcomes with fewer side effects and faster recovery. One such breakthrough is Focused Ultrasound Therapy. "It uses sound energy, l ...Read More >
Shimla, Jul 17 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to remove encroachments on forest lands, including the fruit-bearing trees, all across the state and not limit it to some areas. The order was passed by a division bench consisting of Justices Vivek Thakur and Bipin C Negi on Wednesday after the Advocate General placed on record fresh instructions issued by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, informing that 2,456 apple and other fruit trees have been felled from forest lands in Chaithla village, and 713 and 490 trees in Rohru and Kotgarh forest divisions, r ...Read More >
VMPL Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 17: Cytecare Hospitals, a leading cancer and multi-speciality hospital known for its patient-centric and evidence-based care, has received the official license to perform kidney transplants. This milestone marks a significant step in strengthening the hospital's comprehensive organ care program and providing life-saving treatment options to patients with end-stage kidney disease. With this development, patients can now benefit from a multidisciplinary transplant team comprising experienced nephrologists, urologists, transplant surgeons, anesthesiol ...Read More >
Train-the-trainer programme focuses on gynaecological endoscopy and surgical training Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Navi Mumbai, hosted a train-the-trainer live surgical workshop on 28 March 2026 focused on gynaecological endoscopy training for practitioners. The workshop was led by Dr Prashant Bhamare, HOD and Director - Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the hospital. The programme included three Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH) procedures. One procedure included Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectom ...Read More >
Lucknow: Liver fibrosis can increase the risk of cancers like colorectal, breast, and prostate by 3 to 4 times, warned Prof Gaurav Pandey from the department of gastroenterology, SGPGIMS. He spoke at a health talk titled "Fatty Liver - the Silent Epidemic" organised by the Club of Lucknow on Sunday. The event began with an address by chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh.Prof Pandey said fatty liver disease, now called MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease), is often silent in the early stages and usually detected by chance. The liver, which weighs about 1.5 kg, processes ...Read More >
Jhargram, Jul 18 (PTI) Three elephants, including two calves, were run over by an express train near Banstala railway station in West Bengal's Paschim Midnapore district, police said on Friday. The incident, which took place on Thursday night, occurred when an elephant herd that probably came from Jharkhand's Dalma forest was traversing, they said. The three pachyderms were mowed on the tracks by a speeding Janshatabdi Express on the Kharagpur-Tatanagar section, a police officer said. It was difficult to go near the carcasses for some time, as the herd of 30 elephants was passing through th ...Read More >
Childhood cancer is a disease no child should ever have to face. Yet, the reality is sobering: around four lakh children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer every year, and nearly 20% of these cases come from India. Awareness is the first step to changing outcomes. This is the most common and often the hardest question to answer. Unlike adult cancers, there are no proven lifestyle or environmental factors that cause cancer in children. Nearly 90% of childhood cancers are sporadic, meaning they h ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], October 31: Breast cancer has emerged as the most common cancer among women in India, with Hyderabad recording the highest incidence rates in the country. The contrast with the USA, where rates have remained stable and screening is widespread, underscores a public health emergency for urban India. Also Read | Has India Pulled 500 Billion Pounds From the UK Economy After Keir Starmer's 'Explosive' Comments on Kashmir and Colonial Reparations? PIB Fact Check Debunks Fake Claim Made in Video of YouTube Channel 'KindomUnveil'. Alarming Trends -- Why Hyderabad Leads the Nation ...Read More >
An analysis of a nationwide lifestyle and digestive health survey has flagged low awareness of colorectal cancer and widespread digestive health concerns among Bengalureans. The findings indicate a high reliance on self-medication and delayed medical consultation, raising concerns about late diagnosis of serious gastrointestinal conditions. March is observed globally as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. In Bengaluru, of the 937 respondents surveyed, 88% reported managing gastric issues such as ...Read More >
New Delhi: Heart disease risk calculators used across hospitals may not accurately identify Indians, who face imminent danger, states a new research involving nearly 5,000 patients. The study found that close to 80 per cent of individuals who eventually suffered a first heart attack had not been labelled 'high-risk' by widely accepted global scoring systems. These findings raise serious concerns about preventive cardiology practices in India, where heart disease often strikes earlier and progresses differently compared to Western populations. Researchers say physiological patterns, diabetes b ...Read More >
* Doctors at RML Hospital performed a minimally invasive heart surgery on a 31-year-old woman. * The patient had Situs Inversus, a rare condition with mirror-image organ placement. * She also had a partial AV canal defect causing abnormal blood mixing in the heart. Did our AI summary help? Let us know. Switch To Beeps Mode New Delhi: In what the hospital claimed to be a global first, doctors at the RML Hospital have successfully performed a minimally invasive heart surgery on a 31-year-old ...Read More >
Srinagar, June 28: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today chaired a high-level meeting with members of civil society organisations, religious leaders, elected representatives, and representatives from the trade and business communities to review arrangements for the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. Among those present were Chief Minister Omar Abdullah; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; Special Director General (Coordination) S.J.M. Gillani; Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor and CEO of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Bidhuri; ...Read More >