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.
Gurgaon: The state health department has recorded 62 confirmed cases of dengue till June end. However, Gurgaon hasn't recorded any cases so far even as dengue hotspots have been mapped out. Rewari has emerged as the most affected district with 14 cases, followed by Karnal with eight, Panchkula with seven and Kaithal and Faridabad with four each. While the state numbers are lower than in previous years, authorities remain vigilant to prevent a post-monsoon surge. Thirty-one cases of malaria and 10 cases of chikungunya were also recorded during the same period.In Gurgaon, the health department has mapped out several dengue hotspots, including Wazirabad, DLF 1 and 4, sectors 12, 12A, 21A, 39, 45, 47 and 52, as well as Palam Vihar, Basai, Kanhai Colony, Sirhaul, Dharam Colony, Udyog Vihar 1 and Jharsa. Chief medical officer Dr Alka Singh said, "Fever surveillance drives are being conducted to detect cases early and initiate timely treatment." With early action and public awareness, officials hope to maintain low-disease counts through the high-risk monsoon season."Citizens must ensure there is no collection of stagnant water in tanks, flower pots and water coolers. Residents are advised to wear full-sleeved clothing and use mosquito repellents and we may get dengue cases till Oct 15," she said.In 2024, Gurgaon reported 186 cases. In 2023, the city saw 276 dengue cases and one fatality. In 2022, it recorded 440 cases, while in 2021, there were 327 dengue cases and one death. The city witnessed the highest number of cases in 2015, when 451 people were infected. The figure stood at 86 in 2016, 66 in 2017 and 93 in 2018. While 22 cases were reported in 2019, 51 cases were recorded in 2020.Free dengue testing To tackle the threat of vector-borne diseases, the govt has launched a comprehensive containment strategy. A senior health official said, "Free dengue testing is available at 27 govt laboratories and 241 dedicated wards with 1,050 hospital beds have been reserved across state-run hospitals.""Fogging operations have been intensified with 566 machines including vehicle-mounted units, deployed across the state. Additionally, larvivorous Gambusia fish have been released in nearly 6,900 water bodies to eliminate mosquito larvae. Legal notices have also been issued to construction sites and households found violating municipal bye-laws related to mosquito breeding," the official added.
Belagavi: With monsoon rainfall intensifying, the health department in Belagavi district has ramped up preventive efforts to control the spread of dengue, particularly in the critical month of July, when water saturation increases the risk of mosquito breeding.While the number of dengue cases remained under control in June, health officials are on alert for a potential surge. According to district health officer (DHO) Dr SS Gadad, the department identified around 1,300 suspected cases of dengue-related symptoms in June. Of these, 620 samples were collected for testing, with only 21 confirmed p ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 9 (PTI) A 23-year-old man has been arrested at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) here for allegedly impersonating as a Delhi Police sub-inspector by using a forged identity card and fake appointment documents, an official said on Wednesday. The accused, identified as Sahil Kumar, is a resident of Ladpur in Rajasthan's Alwar district and allegedly used the fake identity to target and befriend women victims, including Delhi Police personnel. "Kumar, who was wearing a T-shirt with a Delhi Police logo at the time of detention, was held on Monday by CISF personnel durin ...Read More >
Noida: To ensure a safe passage of Kanwar pilgrims, who will use a 4 km stretch between July 11 and 25, the Noida Police have held meetings with different departments including power, and health departments, and Noida authority, besides holding discussions with DJ operators and event organisers, officials said on Thursday. The Noida traffic police have also issued diversions to prevent any congestion. To be sure, in Noida, pilgrims will enter through Mayur Vihar, pass by the Shani Temple and Okhla Bird Sanctuary, and exit at Kalindi Kunj, covering a route of approximately four kilometres wit ...Read More >
Navi Mumbai: In a major public health initiative, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has intensified its efforts to curb mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue by organizing a series of public awareness and prevention camps. A total of 286 camps were conducted across the NMMC jurisdiction, drawing the participation of 1,12,887 citizens, with 6,666 blood samples collected for testing. On July 10, the latest round of camps saw 11,312 residents attend, where they were given practical demonstrations of mosquito larvae and shown how breeding typically occurs in stagnant clea ...Read More >
MUMBAI: A directive from the state prohibiting the sale of fish at Sassoon Docks, one of Mumbai's oldest and most active fish landing sites, has stirred the waters for the fishing community, especially Kolis at Colaba and Cuffe Parade. The ban on fish sales, recently imposed by the Maharashtra state fisheries department, is a first at the dock and, according to the Koli community, oversteps the annual ban on fishing during the monsoon from June 1 to July 31. While the community acknowledges the need to prohibit fishing during the monsoon months, as it protects marine biodiversity during the b ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Bengaluru has witnessed a marked decline in dengue cases this year, with infections falling to less than half of those recorded during the same period in 2024. Health officials attribute the encouraging trend to intensified mosquito control efforts, increased community engagement, and heightened awareness campaigns. Data from the health division of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) reveals that between January 1 and June 4 2025, the city logged 824 dengue cases, a 48.1 per cent drop from the 1,712 infections reported during the same period last year. The decline has be ...Read More >
Udupi: In a bid to reduce the number of dengue and malaria cases, the Udupi district administration has decided to carry out prevention activities across the district in June and July. Deputy commissioner Vidya Kumari said awareness should be created among people on measures to prevent dengue and malaria in the district. Further, the district also needs to implement preventive measures effectively to make Karnataka free from malaria in 2025.The district carried out drives as part of World Malaria Day to prevent the spread of the disease with the slogan 'Malaria ends with us: reinvest, reimagin ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will undertake an official visit to France, the European Union (EU), and Belgium from June 8 to 14, 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs announced in a press release on Sunday. The visit marks a significant step in further strengthening India's strategic partnerships with Europe. The EAM will first travel to Paris and Marseille, France, where he will hold bilateral discussions with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Jean Noel Barrot. Also Read | Indian Citizen Dies in UAE: Civil Engineer Issac Paul ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said the state govt was consistently working to provide better resources to the doctors and quality healthcare services to the citizens.He mentioned that medical colleges were being established in every district.While there were only six medical colleges in 2014, the number has now increased to 15, and nine new colleges are under construction. As a result, MBBS seats in the state increased from 700 in 2014 to 2,185, at present. The state govt aims to increase the MBBS seats to over 3,400 by 2029, said Saini.The CM was addressing a ...Read More >
Panaji: With extensive source reduction drives, house-to-house visits and tracking of fever cases, Goa has seen only 10 confirmed cases of dengue in June this year as against 60 confirmed cases in the same month of last year. "All 10 cases have been reported in North Goa, while not a single case has been reported in South Goa," said Dr Kalpana Mahatme, state programme officer and deputy director of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme. Of the 10 cases, six cases are in Mapusa, while one each is in Candolim, Aldona, Siolim and Porvorim. "The cases reported in Mapusa are mainly ...Read More >
New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi's public health department has launched an intensive drive to check mosquito breeding at historical sites and tourist places in the city. At least 55 such places were checked in the past few days and mosquito breeding was found at 16 sites, which were destroyed on the spot, MCD stated. The department claimed to have visited Humayun's Tomb, Delhi zoo, Qutub Minar complex, Lotus Pond, Sunder Nagar Nursery, etc. While 16 violators were served notices, prosecution was launched against six of them, MCD stated. Such places have vast green areas, which increa ...Read More >
Rajouri: State Health Department teams are continuing door-to-door surveillance in Badhal village as the mystery illness in Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir continues to claim lives. This after an 'unidentified' disease has claimed 16 reported fatalities and 38 affected individuals According to reports, NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control), ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) teams have been deployed for investigation as 16 deaths have been reported in Budhal village since December 2024 due to a 'mysterious illness.' Dilmir Choudhary, ADC Kotranka said, "Since December, we h ...Read More >
Haridwar: A woman politician has been arrested for allegedly letting her boyfriend and others repeatedly rape her 13-year-old daughter in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The horrifying crime, which occurred between January and March, was exposed when the minor bravely confided in her father, prompting a police investigation that led to the arrest of the accused. The accused was arrested with her boyfriend and one more. According to police reports, the minor was gang-raped multiple times, often in the presence of her mother. The minor, who had been living with her father following her parents' separat ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The much-awaited monsoon, originally forecast for June 25, finally made its dramatic entry into Delhi-NCR on Saturday afternoon. As dark, brooding clouds swept across the skies, several parts of the region were drenched in heavy showers, bringing much-needed relief from the scorching heat. The spell of rain, accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms, brought the city to life -- and briefly to a standstill -- as the first real signs of the season washed over the capital. Delhi remains under an orange alert, which, as per IMD's colour code, means "be prepared." Following the down ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): The Delhi government has requested Rs 1,000 crore in funding from the Central government to deploy new technology and implement measures aimed at reducing the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital, Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said on Sunday during an inspection of Nehru Park. Minister Singh visited Nehru Park along with Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, as part of the government's initiative to install air purifiers in the area. Also Read | US: 24-Year-Old Indian Woman Simran Simran Goes Missing Days After Arriving for Arranged Mar ...Read More >
Srinagar- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said foreign countries were told clearly during the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach that in case of a fresh provocation, India would repeat its action. Speaking at a discussion at the Ahmedabad Management Association, Tharoor said Indian delegations which visited foreign countries in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor managed to convey that India acted with restraint and responsibility. "In other places, we actually were able to get some very high-placed people to say not only that they respected and supported India's right of self- ...Read More >
Guwahati: State is witnessing a concerning surge in Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases, with Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) reporting 47 confirmed infections so far. The mosquito-borne viral disease has already claimed 13 lives across the state. Data provided by GMCH authorities shows that JE cases began emerging in April, with the first fatalities reported in June. While six patients have recovered and been discharged, three left the hospital against medical advice and several others are still undergoing treatment. The infection has been detected across several districts -- Kamrup ...Read More >
New Delhi: The sudden and untimely death of television actress and Bigg Boss 13 fame Shefali Jariwala has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry and among her fans. She was just 42 years old. According to reports, Shefali is believed to have died of a cardiac arrest, although an official confirmation of the cause of death is still awaited. In a statement to the press, Mumbai Police told news agency ANI, "Her body was found at her residence in Andheri area. Mumbai Police received information about this at 1 am. Her body has been sent to Cooper Hospital for postmortem. The cause of ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre and Rajasthan governments over the reported plan to redraw the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve for the reactivation of over 50 mining operations, saying the move would be "ecologically devastating". The opposition party also said that with the Rajasthan and Union environment ministers both being from Alwar, this "double engine" cannot be supporting such a move. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared on X a media report which claimed that a plan to redraw the boundaries of Rajasthan's ...Read More >
MADURAI: Likening the custodial murder of Ajith Kumar in Tiruppuvanam to an 'organised crime by police where the state kills its own citizens,' Madras high court lambasted the Tamil Nadu police and said the action against the perpetrators should be more stringent than in normal murder cases.A division bench of Justice S M Subramaniam and Justice A D Maria Clete pointed to 44 external injuries on the person of Ajith Kumar and said no part of the body was spared by the delinquent cops. "Even an ordinary murderer would not have inflicted such kind of injuries," the bench said on Tuesday.The natur ...Read More >
Guwahati, July 6: The outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Assam has taken a worrying turn, with the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) reporting 13 deaths linked to the disease in the past three months. According to hospital authorities, a total of 57 encephalitis patients have been admitted to GMCH during this period. As of Friday, 47 patients are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. In the past 24 hours alone, GMCH admitted 10 new JE cases, indicating a sharp surge in infections. However, there is some relief as 10 patients have successfully recovered and been dis ...Read More >
Silchar: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday visited the flood-ravaged districts of Hailakandi and Sribhumi in the Barak Valley. He assured affected residents of providing timely disbursement of rehabilitation grants and swift repair of damaged infrastructure.This marks Sarma's second visit to the flood-hit region within four days, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Speaking to the media in Sribhumi after inspecting multiple relief camps, the CM said, "Flood-related problems may persist till July. I will return before Durga Puja to ensure that roads and infrastructure ar ...Read More >
Gurgaon: Two days after a law student died and his friend suffered critical injuries when a car knocked them down as they stood near railing on the service lane of Delhi-Jaipur highway in the early hours of Tuesday, a civil engineer was arrested on Thursday.Mohit (31), an employee of a private company in the city, told police that he got drowsy while driving. He is staying at a PG facility in Sector 14.The student who died, Harsh Singhal (25), was a resident of Om Nagar colony. His friend Abhishek Kumar (23), who is from Shanti Nagar in Sector 11, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital ...Read More >
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], July 4 (ANI): Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday came down heavily on the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) over its pitch to reconsider the words 'secular and socialist' from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution while saying that it was 'all talk'. He dared and challenged RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and top leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the centre to remove the words 'secular and socialist' from the Preamble. 'Days before, I heard that some RSS person said that we should remove Secular and Socialist words from ...Read More >
ASSAM : Priyalin Gogoi, a Class 9 student from Dhakuakhana in Assam's Lakhimpur district, has made an unusual promise this year: he won't eat local fish until mid-July. This may sound peculiar to some, but for Priyalin, it's a small yet significant sacrifice. This is the fish breeding season and the state government has imposed a ban on fishing in designated areas to allow the fish to reproduce. Priyalin's decision is part of a larger movement initiated by Manash Pratim Dutta, a government schoolteacher and conservationist from Dhakuakhana. Along with Haripriya Gogoi, Meghali Das, Rakhipriya ...Read More >
Vijayawada, July 6 (UNI) The Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department of Andhra Pradesh government is launching a focused 'smart Mosquito control' programme using Deep Technology to check vector- borne diseases. The Artificial Intelligence-powered Smart Mosquito Surveillance System (SMoSS) will be launched on a pilot basis at 66 locations in six major municipal corporations in the state. SMoSS will primarily safeguard public health by curbing the dreaded mosquito menace and, it will also reduce operational burden on civic staff and cut costs of Urban Local Bodies. Th ...Read More >
Hyderabad, July 7 (Maxim News): In light of the increasing risk of dengue and seasonal diseases, the Telangana Health Department has urged citizens across the state to observe 'Friday Dry Day' -- a weekly initiative to eliminate stagnant water in and around homes, offices, and public spaces. With the arrival of monsoon, conditions are now ideal for the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes, the primary vector of dengue. The health authorities have called on the public to proactively prevent mosquito breeding by ensuring there is no water accumulation in containers, flower pots, air coolers, or any ope ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): Heavy rains lashed parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Wednesday, bringing relief from days of intense heat. Waterlogging was witnessed in several parts of Delhi. Traffic also came to a standstill in many parts of the national capital following the heavy rainfall. According to sources, due to bad weather in Delhi, a total of six flights have been diverted from IGI Airport, including two to Lucknow and four to Jaipur. The diversions were necessary as poor weather conditions impacted visibility and flight operations. Meanwhile, Indigo Airli ...Read More >
Pune: Hospitals in Pune have started reporting an increase in dengue cases among children following recent heavy rainfall and intermittent showers. Conditions are now ripe for mosquito breeding, experts said, as they warned citizens to ensure there's no waterlogging or stagnant pools near homes and offices. "Dengue is typically seen first in children as they often play outside," said Dr Sagar Lad, a senior neonatologist and pediatric intensivist at Jehangir Hospital and Sahyadri Hospital, Shastrinagar. Dr Lad said he's seen at least three children admitted for dengue this week, with all of the ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana, who was part of the all-party parliamentary delegation to Europe, said that during their recently conclued visit they successfully communicated India's development story and its resolute stand against terrorism, particularly emanating from Pakistan. Highlighting the delegation's key discussions during the tour, Khatana told ANI, 'We discussed how we dismantled the terrorism factory in Pakistan by responding... We also talked about tourism infrastructure, G20 Summit, and projects like the six-lane roads, bridges, solar initiatives, our ...Read More >