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.
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A veteran radiologist from Jabalpur, Dr Gopal Pol succumbed to dengue fever on Tuesday. Dr Pol had been unwell for several days and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital since a long time. This is the first dengue‑related death reported in the district this year. His first screening test for dengue was negative, even though he showed clear dengue symptoms. Later, an ELISA test confirmed he was positive. Despite continuous care from a team of doctors, he could not be saved. ELISA test mandatory The news has raised concern inside the local health department. Chief Medical & Health Officer Dr Sanjay Mishra reminded hospitals that a case should be called dengue only after an ELISA test is positive. Declaring it earlier can create panic and lead to wrong statistics, he said. Dengue-sensitive phase starts On‑and‑off monsoon rain and humid heat help mosquitoes breed. When rainwater collects and stands still, mosquito larvae multiply quickly. July, August and September are the most sensitive months for dengue in central India. In such a situation it is important for citizens to take precautions like: Do not let water collect in buckets, flowerpots, tyres or open containers. Wear long‑sleeved clothing and sleep under a mosquito net. Use mosquito repellents and keep doors and windows screened. Bleeding from nose, gums or under the skin in severe cases 2024 saw rise in Dengue cases The district saw a sharp rise in dengue cases in 2024 as well. Health experts warn that infection with one of the four dengue virus types does not protect you from the others, so anyone can be infected more than once. Local officials urge residents to stay alert, report symptoms early, and follow prevention steps to stop further spread of the disease.
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 >
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, Jul 15 (PTI) Mumbai has recorded an increase in malaria and chikungunya cases between January and July 2025 (till July 14) as compared to the same period of the previous year, the city civic body said on Tuesday. However, a decline was noticed in cases of leptospirosis and other water-borne diseases, including gastroenteritis and hepatitis, during the period under review, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in its report - Monsoon-Related Diseases. "The early onset of monsoon (in May) this year created a favourable environment for vector-borne diseases, leading to an ob ...Read More >
Dimapur, Jul 18 (PTI) Two persons have died of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Nagaland, a health department official said on Friday. Chief Medical Officer, Dimapur, Dr Yartenla Jamir, said that of the seven JE cases detected in Dimapur, Chumoukedima, and Niuland districts, two persons have died so far. Also Read | Chhattisgarh: 6 Bodies of Naxals Recovered in Ongoing Encounter With Security Forces in Narayanpur. She expressed concern over the rise in Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases in the three districts, especially during the monsoon season, which increases the risk of transmission. The H ...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 >
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 >
Amritsar: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey from Jharkhand has claimed that Britain assisted India in executing the 1984 Operation Bluestar at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, stoking a new controversy.In a post on X on Monday, Dubey alleged that then PM Indira Gandhi "launched an attack on the Golden Temple in collaboration with Britain", with British Army officers present in Amritsar.He uploaded a classified British document, "Sikh Community", claiming that on Feb 23, 1984, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office mentioned in a letter that the Indian govt had sought British advice over a plan to remove Si ...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 >
ISLAMABAD/NEDW DELHI, Aug 27 (Reuters) - India on Wednesday opened all gates of major dams on rivers in its part of the Kashmir region following heavy rains, and warned neighbouring Pakistan of the possibility of downstream flooding, an Indian government source said. Pakistan said Islamabad received the warning, and subsequently issued an alert for flooding on three rivers which flow into the country from India. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan have been ravaged by intense monsoon rains and flood ...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 >
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 >
Ajmer (Rajasthan) [India], July 19 (ANI): The Ana Sagar lake in Rajasthan's Ajmer overflowed on Saturday morning, following incessant rain, which caused waterlogging. Due to this, the road connecting Bajrang Garh to the market has been closed. The locals used sandbags in an attempt to stop the flow of water. Also Read | Meghalaya Shocker: Schoolgirl Hacked to Death With Machete by Assailant in East Garo Hills District. Municipal Corporation Chief Engineer Vinod Manohar stated that the cause of waterlogging is due to lake water entering through escape channels, which have been opened by near ...Read More >
Pune: The Indian Gig Workers' Front on Saturday evening suspended the ongoing strike of cabs and autorickshaws operating on applications till Tuesday, after leaving many commuters, including those arriving at the airport on Saturday morning, hassled. Keshav Kshirsagar, the president of the front, said, "We have a meeting on Tuesday with senior officials of the state transport department. If its decisions don't meet our expectations, the strike will resume." Several commuters had a harrowing experience on roads on Friday and in the early hours of Saturday. Cabs and autos were hard to come by. T ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: State IT Mission, in collaboration with Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), invited artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that address real-world governance challenges identified by various departments under the 'K-AI Initiative: AI for Governance' programme.Innovators, students, researchers and startups can submit AI-based governance solutions that can be leveraged by various governing bodies of state govt. A flagship initiative aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI solutions across govt departments, Kerala AI (K-AI) envisions a collaborative ecosystem where emerging techno ...Read More >
Ramban Sep 15: The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained partially open on Monday with authorities permitting only one-way traffic at Tharad in Udhampur district. Only Jammu-bound vehicles are being allowed to ply, and even that under strict regulation due to the narrow, single-lane passage and the severely uneven road surface. A problematic 250-300 meter stretch at Tharad continues to pose serious challenges to vehicular movement. Traffic officials deployed at Chenani said that while fruit-laden trucks stranded for days were allowed to move towards Jammu, the movement was slow and cauti ...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 >
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 h ...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 >
Patna: While the monsoon brings respite from the heat, the threat of vector-borne diseases also increases during this time of the year.According to official data, so far 62 dengue cases have been registered in Patna district, along with seven chikungunya. Health experts have warned people to remain cautious as the peak season is just ahead.Officials said of the total 62 dengue cases, the majority were from the capital. When asked about the steps being taken by the department as cases are expected to increase with each passing day, Patna civil surgeon Dr Avinash Kumar Singh said they were on al ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 19 (PTI) The Regional Medical Research Centre in Bhubaneswar, under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has developed an advanced malaria vaccine that can prevent plasmodium falciparum infection in individuals and minimise community transmission. The ICMR Delhi has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from eligible organisations, companies and manufacturers enthusiastic about the Transfer of Technology for commercial production of "a recombinant chimeric multi-stage malaria vaccine (AdFalciVax) against plasmodium falciparum". ...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 >
Bareilly (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) A teacher from Bahedi district, who went viral recently after reciting a poem mentioning Kanwar Yatra, approached the police on Thursday stating a threat to his life from anti-social elements. A case has been registered at Bahedi police station based on a complaint from Dr Rajneesh Kumar Gangwar, a teacher at MGM Inter College in the district. According to Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh, Gangwar's complaint says that ever since his recitation of the poem 'Tum Kanwad Lene Mat Jana, Gyaan Ka Deepak Jalaana' (You don't go get Kavad, light the lamp of knowledge inste ...Read More >
Ludhiana: As part of efforts to counter the risk of dengue, the health department conducted a house-to-house dengue awareness and breeding check drive at Chand Colony, under the guidance of civil surgeon Dr Ramandeep Kaur.The civil surgeon urged residents to actively participate in dengue prevention efforts. "We are working tirelessly to prevent dengue outbreaks, but our efforts can only be effective with the full support of the community. Every household must ensure that water is not allowed to stagnate, as it serves as a breeding ground for dengue-carrying mosquitoes," she said. She also urg ...Read More >
New Delhi: Traffic in central Delhi will be affected on Thursday as the traffic police has issued an advisory due to the Janmashtami and Tazia processions.According to police, the traffic movement in Paharganj is likely to be affected from 1.30pm in view of the shobha yatra for Janmashtami and the Tazia procession.The Janmashtami procession will start from Mandir Shri Banke Bihari Ji in Paharganj's Sangatrasan Bazar and pass through Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, Chuna Mandi, Main Bazar, Munja Chowk and Arakashan Road. The Tazia procession will start from Ajmeri Gate and proceed through Pul Paharganj ...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 >
Guwahati (Assam) [India], July 5 (ANI): Japanese Encephalitis (JE), a mosquito-borne viral infection, has claimed 13 lives at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Assam so far this year. The hospital has reported 50 confirmed cases of JE since April 1, raising significant concerns among health authorities. Dr Ujjal Kumar Sharma, Deputy Superintendent of GMCH, told ANI, 'In Guwahati Medical College & Hospital, from April 1 to July 4, 50 patients of Japanese Encephalitis have been admitted.' He added, 'Out of the 50 patients, 13 patients have expired here. Three patients left again ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh administration has strengthened security arrangements across several districts including Lucknow, Sambhal, and Moradabad to ensure peace and avoid any disruption, as Muharram processions and the Kanwar Yatra are being held at the same time.Large crowds gathered for Muharram processions across different regions, while preparations for the Kanwar Yatra are also underway. Police personnel have been deployed in all sensitive areas, and surveillance is being carried out using drones and CCTV cameras.In SambhalDistrict Magistrate Dr Rajender Pensiya while speaking to ANI ...Read More >
Lucknow, Jun 27 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Department (UDD) has launched a comprehensive plan to ensure cleanliness, lighting, and water arrangements for the upcoming Kanwar Yatra, Sawan Mela, and other festivals, the state government said in a statement on Friday. Principal Secretary of UDD, Amrit Abhijat, has directed urban bodies to carry out daily cleaning operations from 5:00 am to 8:00 am. Special emphasis will be placed on Kanwar Yatra routes and ghats, with dedicated sanitation workers deployed for thorough cleaning. Waste collected during the cleaning operations will b ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Thousands of people who gathered at ashoorkhana in Dabeerpura on the 10th day of Muharram (Youm-e-Ashura) took part in the Bibi-ka-Alam procession. The procession commenced from Dabeerpura on an elephant and concluded at Chaderghat. The Shia mourners took out the procession to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Prophet Mohammad's grandson, Imam Hussain, on the 10th day of Muharram. Members of the Shia sect performed matam and participated in processions. The 10th Muharram is the day on which Imam Hussain was martyred in the battle of Karbala by Yazid and his army. The relic made of ...Read More >
Water Crisis to Water Security: The Art of Living's Scalable Model for a Water Positive India Water Crisis to Water Security: The Art of Living's Scalable Model for a Water Positive India 5 min read Last Updated : Aug 26 2025 | 12:00 PM IST PRNewswire Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], August 26: Water is India's lifeline - and its looming crisis. With 80% of the country's water needs met through fast-depleting groundwater, and erratic monsoons failing to replenish rivers and reservoirs, the thre ...Read More >