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: Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) -- a common fungal infection that claims 340,000 lives every year worldwide, can turn lethal for about 1 in three people with lung diseases, finds a study by researchers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital. CPA, caused by exposure to airborne spores of the mould Aspergillus, causes gradual scarring of the lungs for months and years. It is a debilitating condition that causes severe tiredness, weight loss, breathlessness, and coughing up blood. While exposure to Aspergillus is harmless to most people, it may affect those with lung damage. The study, based on a major global review and published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, showed that around 32 per cent of people who have had prior damage from lung diseases will die after five years if they also get infected by CPA. Nearly 15 per cent of people with CPA will die in the first year following other lung diseases. AIIMS Delhi researchers Dr. Abinhav Sengupta and Dr. Animesh Ray examined the death rates in 8,778 patients described in the literature from all continents except Antarctica. The international study including researchers from the University of Manchester, showed that CPA patients with prior tuberculosis (TB) had a lower overall 5-year mortality of 25 per cent. However, they also found that patients with CPA end up being misdiagnosed as having TB, and then not treated with antifungal agents. Treatment with antifungal drugs or surgery is key to improving symptoms and also reducing the risk of death, the researchers said. Further, people older than 60, and those having interstitial lung disease, current cancer, and smoking-related lung disease carried worse outcomes, said the team.
Jaipur: The 23-year-old patient who received the heart, kidney and lungs of a brain-dead patient -- that were airlifted in the first such instance of organ transport in Rajasthan -- died on Tuesday late night at the SMS Hospital here. The hospital's senior doctor and spokesperson Dr Manish Agarwal said the complicated surgery was successful. Doctors tried hard to save the woman, but could not succeed, after which the patient died. The organs were airlifted for the first time in Rajasthan. The heart, kidney and lungs of Vishnu Prasad, a brain-dead youth in Jhalawar, were transported to Jaipur ...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 >

Bhubaneswar/Balasore: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, has constituted a high-level expert committee to oversee and monitor the treatment of the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College student who attempted self-immolation. The woman student was admitted to the institute following her self-immolation bid before the principal's chamber Saturday over alleged harassment by the Head of Department (HOD). As per the office order issued by the Medical Superintendent of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, the expert committee includes Prof. Jayant Mitra - Department of Anaesthesia, Prof. Ma ...Read More >

Bhubaneswar, Jul 14 (PTI) The condition of the 20-year-old college student who set herself on fire for allegedly being denied justice over "sexual harassment" by a teacher, remained critical for the third consecutive day on Monday, hospital sources here said. The student's father, a resident of Balasore district, in an appeal to all people of Odisha, urged them to pray to Lord Jagannath for the recovery of his daughter as the doctors have already informed that there were no signs of improvement since her admission at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Saturday evening. The second-year Integrated BE d stud ...Read More >

Rakesh Roshan, a veteran Bollywood actor and director best known for helming blockbusters like Krrish and Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, recently had surgery on his neck. The 74-year-old, who is also the father of Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan, had an angioplasty performed to address a health concern. While the news understandably stirred concern among fans, his daughter Sunaina Roshan has stepped forward to assure well-wishers that there is absolutely no cause for alarm. Speaking to Amar Ujala, s ...Read More >

New Delhi, June 8 (UNI) Active Covid-19 cases in India have crossed the 6,000 mark following a surge of nearly 400 new infections reported in the past 24 hours. The country also recorded six Covid-related deaths during this period, with three fatalities reported from Kerala, as per the data available from the Union Health Ministry. As of now, India has 6,133 active cases and a cumulative death toll of 65. Kerala continues to report the highest number of active infections, nearing the 2,000 mark, making it the state with the largest current caseload. In the last 24 hours, 378 new cases were r ...Read More >

VISAKHAPATNAM: Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar inaugurated Andhra Pradesh's first Super ECBC (Energy Conservation Building Code) compliant building at Sagar Nagar in Visakhapatnam on Friday. Terming it a landmark in sustainable infrastructure, he emphasised the government's commitment to energy efficiency and green design in public facilities. The facility will serve as a national-level training hub for power sector staff. He urged power utilities to expedite 20 lakh rooftop solar connections, targeting 10,000 in each Assembly segment. He reaffirmed nine-hour uninterrupted power for agri ...Read More >
Kanpur: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has raised grave concerns regarding water contamination and health complications arising from the presence of chromium, mercury, fluoride, and iron in Kanpur, Kanpur Dehat, and adjacent Fatehpur. The tribunal has commissioned the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, to investigate these issues thoroughly, noting insufficient rigour in govt assessments.The amicus curiae advocate's findings revealed dangerous concentrations of chromium, mercury, fluoride, and iron in soil and groundwater samples. Govt health camps detected elevated ...Read More >

New Delhi, July 9 (SocialNews.XYZ) Verbal autopsy is a scientific tool that can significantly aid India in the fight against tuberculosis, as it helps identify the deep reasons for mortality caused by the world's deadliest infection, said Dr Kavita Vasudevan from Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute (IGMC&RI) in Puducherry. Speaking to IANS, Vasudevan, from the Community Medicine Department at the Medical College explained how a verbal autopsy model can help identify TB treatment delay patterns, and reasons for TB deaths and improve the referral process. "A comprehensive appr ...Read More >

Kalpetta: DMO Dr T Mohandas advised caution in Wayanad after Nipah has been confirmed in Malappuram district. In the sample tests conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research in the previous years, it was found that the fruit bats in the district had developed antibodies against Nipah virus. However, caution has been advised as the risk of Nipah is more during the reproductive season of the fruit bats. The medical officer stated that all the health centres have been urged to observe the symptoms and report them promptly. Nipah symptoms Severe headache along with fever, throat pain, mu ...Read More >

Bhubaneswar, July 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday visited AIIMS Bhubaneswar to assess the health condition of the female student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, Balasore, who is undergoing treatment after attempting self-immolation over alleged harassment and administrative negligence. The Chief Minister met the team of doctors treating the critically injured student and also spoke to her family members. The Chief Minister, while speaking to media persons, asserted that stringent action will be taken against culprits on the basis of the inquiry rep ...Read More >

Bhubaneswar, Jul 13 (PTI) The health condition of a 20-year-old college student, who immolated herself over an alleged sexual harassment incident in Odisha's Balasore district, remained critical, with doctors at AIIMS Bhubaneswar starting her dialysis as part of the initiation of renal replacement therapy, a treating medical practitioner said. The second-year student of the integrated B Ed programme at Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore had on Saturday set herself on fire, demanding action against a teacher who had allegedly sexually assaulted and mentally harassed her. Dialysis co ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry in collaboration with key stakeholders is all set to launch a 100-day TB elimination campaign focussing on enhancing detection, reducing diagnostic delays and improving treatment outcomes. The initiative, set to be implemented across 347 districts in 33 states and Union Territories, aims to strengthen programmatic activities and reduce disparities in TB outcomes across diverse regions of the country to achieve the aim of TB elimination, a health ministry statement said. The campaign envisages improving programme performance on key output indicators like T ...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 >

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 >

Balasore (Odisha) [India], July 14 (ANI): The victim student who attempted self-immolation in Odisha Balasore district is suffering from 95 per cent burn, according to her father. The student self-immolated allegedly in protest against sexual harassment by a Professor of her college, sparking widespread outrage. Following this, the student was rushed to AIIMS Bhubaneswar. She has 95 burns. Doctors have said they are trying their best and are also in touch with AIIMS Delhi. CM sir also came here yesterday (Sunday). She had complained, but the principal did not pay heed to it, said the father, ...Read More >

New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi's public health department recently wrote to the veterinary department, requesting an examination of the issue of controlling the pigeon population in Delhi.In correspondence dated July 8, additional municipal health officer informed the veterinary department about concerns raised during the June 27 standing committee meeting regarding pigeon overpopulation and potential health risks from their droppings."It is pertinent to mention that there is no data a ...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 >
Severe air pollution in northern India has led to a surge in demand for respiratory medications, with Foracort becoming India’s top-selling drug in October. The inhaler, used to treat asthma and COPD, recorded Rs 75 crore in sales, surpassing popular medicines like Augmentin and Glycomet-GP. Manufactured by Cipla, Foracort combines budesonide and formoterol for effective dual-action therapy. Other respiratory drugs, Duolin and Budecort, also saw increased sales. With Delhi’s Air Quality Index reaching hazardous levels, the rise in respiratory issues underscores the urgent need for better healt ...Read More >
Mumbai: Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will hold a joint protest march of their parties in the city on July 5 against what they allege is imposition of Hindi in the state's schools from Class 1 through the new three-language policy. This will be the first time they will come together on a political platform after Raj Thackeray's decision to quit Shiv Sena to form MNS nearly two decades ago.There has been speculation of a reunion of the estranged cousins for the coming civic polls, and the protest march is being seen as the first step in that direction, reports Chaitanya Marpakwar.Uddhav and Raj had ...Read More >

Bhubaneswar, Jul 14 (PTI) The condition of the 20-year-old college student who set herself on fire for allegedly being denied justice over "sexual harassment" by a teacher, remained critical for the third consecutive day on Monday, hospital sources here said. Briefing reporters on the latest health condition of the college student, AIIMS Bhubaneswar Superintendent Dr Dillip Parida said: "The patient is certainly critical, but stable. We are saying stable because her health condition has remained the same as it was during her admission to the hospital on Saturday evening. However, there is no ...Read More >

Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) [India], July 14 (ANI): The student who allegedly attempted self-immolation is in a critical condition and on mechanical ventilator in AIIMS Bhubaneshwar, Head of Department (HoD) Department of Burns, Dr Sanjay Giri said on Monday. Dr Giri told ANI, The patient is critical and is on life support and mechanical ventilator. We have checked her parameters, and we will continue the same treatment. Medical Superintendent of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Dr Dillip Kumar Parida, said that AIIMS, Delhi, has advised to share the culture sensitivity report and continue the current treatment ...Read More >
Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday praised King George's Medical University (KGMU) for its pivotal role in responding to the Covid-19 outbreak, marking the beginning of the state's timely and effective pandemic response. "It was here that testing for the first 100 suspected Covid-19 patients began, making it the first institution in Uttar Pradesh to initiate the tests," said the CM, who was in KGMU to inaugurate and lay the foundation of seven major projects worth Rs 941 crore. The ...Read More >
Kuldeep Singh Sengar is also serving a 10-year jail term in connection with the custodial death of the Unnao rape victim's father. Kuldeep Singh Sengar sought interim bail on the grounds that he was suffering from various ailments The Delhi High Court on Thursday granted a two-week interim bail on medical grounds to expelled BJP leader Kuldeep Singh Sengar who is serving life term for raping a minor in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao in 2017. A bench headed by Justice Prathiba M Singh suspended the sent ...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 >
A groundbreaking treatment at Fortis Hospital in Gurugram has made history as the first in Asia to successfully treat multiple brain lesions in a single session using advanced radiation therapy technology. The young patient, diagnosed with cancer, was treated and back home within days, thanks to the expertise of the neurosurgeon. As cancer rates in India continue to rise, with projections estimating 29.8 million cases by 2025, this innovative approach offers hope for improved outcomes. The case underscores the urgent need for enhanced prevention, early detection, and effective treatment strate ...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 >

Patna (Bihar) [India], July 1 (ANI): Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Monday said that if the INDIA bloc comes to power in Bihar after the upcoming assembly elections, it will implement Rajasthan's health model in the state. Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Gehlot said, 'The health model we have created in Rajasthan cannot be compared to any other in the entire country. We have also enacted the 'Right to Health' law in Rajasthan, under which every family has been provided with insurance coverage. The Government of India's Ayushman Bharat schem ...Read More >
Ranchi: Aimed at eliminating tuberculosis and raising awareness across communities, the 'TB Free India' campaign was launched on Tuesday at the civil surgeon office auditorium, under the National Tuberculosis Eradication Programme. The campaign, which started on July 1 and will conclude on December 31, aims to emphasize door-to-door screening, early identification, and free treatment of TB patients across the district.As part of the campaign, special efforts will be made to reach vulnerable populations in all blocks and urban pockets of the city. Accredited social health activists (ASHAs or "S ...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 >