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.
Novo Nordisk's team in India has been pushing the Danish drugmaker's global leadership for an earlier launch of its popular weight-loss drug Wegovy over fears of falling behind rival Eli Lilly in the potentially huge market, two sources familiar with the plans told Reuters. Officials at the Danish drugmaker have said Wegovy might be introduced in India in 2026 once regulatory approvals are in hand and there is sufficient supply. More recently, Novo's India team proposed moving the launch to next year, around the same time Lilly is expected to introduce its weight-loss drug Mounjaro. In a closed-door meeting at Novo's Denmark headquarters about two months ago, the India team raised concerns that the company could lag behind Lilly in the domestic market if Wegovy was not launched early, said one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media. Novo declined to comment on internal discussions and Reuters could not determine what response the India-based executives received. Wegovy and Novo's diabetes drug Ozempic, which has the same main ingredient, and Mounjaro, belong to a class of therapies known as GLP-1 receptor agonists that help control blood sugar and slow digestion, making people feel fuller for longer. The companies have been struggling to meet soaring demand in the U.S. and the few other countries where the drugs have been launched so far. Novo and Lilly are both scaling up production as they vie for a dominant share of a weight-loss market that some analysts forecast could reach $150 billion a year in the next decade. Novo received regulatory approval in India for injectable semaglutide - the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic - in late 2022, according to one of the sources. "We are working to make Wegovy (semaglutide injection 2.4 milligrams) available as soon as possible. We do not yet have a confirmed date for launch," Novo India said in a statement to Reuters. Lilly, in response to a Reuters request, said its 2025 Mounjaro launch is also subject to the supply situation. Last month, Novo launched Wegovy in China, the world's second-largest pharmaceuticals market, pricing a month's supply of the starter dose at 1,400 yuan ($193.27), far lower than its U.S. list price of more than $1,300, although most people don't pay that much. India's generic drugmakers, including Cipla and Dr Reddy's, are making cheaper copies of Wegovy, with the timing of any launch subject to patent expiry. Sun Pharmaceutical, India's largest drugmaker by revenue, is developing its own experimental GLP weight-loss drug. India, a country of more than 1.4 billion people, has seen an increase in the prevalence of obesity. A government survey conducted between 2019 and 2021 showed that 24% of women and nearly 23% of men between the ages of 15 and 49 were either overweight or obese, up from 20.6% of women and 19% of men in 2015-2016. Dr. Rishma Pai, a consultant gynaecologist at three hospitals in Mumbai who participated in a Novo survey about attitudes towards obesity, said the company has been reaching out to many types of doctors for a few years to spread awareness about obesity medications and better understand how to promote their acceptance in India. Acceptance no longer appears to be an issue. "Every patient is asking about these weight-loss injections," Pai said.
New Delhi [India], July 16 (ANI): The Indian government expressed regret on Tuesday over the reported demolition of the ancestral property of celebrated filmmaker and writer Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, Bangladesh and expressed its willingness to extend cooperation in its restoration. "We note with profound regret that the ancestral property of noted filmmaker and litterateur Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, belonging to his grandfather and eminent litterateur, Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury, is being demolished," the Ministry of External Affairs said. Also Read | India Urges Bangladesh ...Read More >
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged five individuals, including goldy Brar, in relation to the 2024 Gurugram club bombing plot, as revealed in a recently filed chargesheet. This case involves a conspiracy to bomb two clubs, aiming to disrupt communal harmony in Haryana, with the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) implicated. The NIA's investigation highlights the severity of the plot. Those charged include satinderjit Singh (Goldy Brar), Sachin Talian, Ankit, Bhavish, and Randeep Singh. News Directory 3 provides crucial updates on sensitive cases such ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The central government on Tuesday denied media reports which claimed that the Ministry of Health has issued health warnings on Indian snacks such as samosas, jalebi, and laddoo to fight obesity crises in the country. It noted that the warning labels on food issued by the Ministry of Health are "not selective towards Indian snacks". "Some media reports claim that the @MoHFW_INDIA has issued a health warning on food products such as samosas, jalebi, and laddoo. This claim is fake. The advisory of the Union Health Ministry does not carry any warning labels on ...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 >
Mumbai, June 27 (SocialNews.XYZ) Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana joins names such as Kamal Haasan, Ariana Grande, and Jeremy Strong at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this year. Ayushmann along with names such as Kamal Haasan Naomi Ackie, Gillian Anderson, Branford Marsalis, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Graham, Jodie Comer and Jason Momoa are among 534 individuals who were invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences on June 26. "We are thrilled to invite this esteemed class of artists, technologists, and professionals to join the Academy," said Ac ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 15 (ANI): The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has debunked media reports claiming that the Ministry has directed the issue of Warning Labels on food products such as samosas, jalebis, and laddoos, calling them misleading, incorrect, and baseless. The Union Health Ministry had separately issued an advisory which is an initiative towards making healthier choices at work places. It advises about display of Boards in various workplaces such as lobbies, canteens, cafeterias, meeting rooms etc., to raise awareness on harmful consumption of hidden fats and excess ...Read More >
Kolkata : To commemorate Indian Organ Donation Day -- observed annually on August 3rd to mark the anniversary of India's first successful deceased donor heart transplant -- Manipal Hospital, EM Bypass, organized a Patient Education Programme aimed at spreading awareness about the importance of organ donation and transplantation. The session was graced by (Prof.) Dr. Dilip Kumar Pahari, Senior Consultant and Head of Nephrology, Manipal Hospital, EM Bypass and (Prof.) Dr. Arpita Ray Chowdhury (Lahiri), Senior Consultant - Nephrology and Transplant President of the Indian Society of Organ Transpl ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Dietary approaches like intermittent energy restriction, time-restricted eating, and continuous energy restriction can all improve blood sugar levels and body weight in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to a study. Although researchers identified improved HbA1c levels, and adverse events were similar across the three groups, the IER group showed greater advantages in reducing fasting blood glucose, improving insulin sensitivity, lowering triglycerides, and strengthening adherence to the dietary interventions. IER typically involves periods ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 15: The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday termed reports claiming it has directed vendors to put warning labels on food items such as samosas, jalebis and laddos as "misleading, incorrect, and baseless". It clarified that its advisory on health messaging about hidden fats and excess sugar in various food items is not a directive for vendors to put warning labels on their products, and underlined that it does not target India's rich street food culture. The general advisory is a behavioural nudge to make people aware of hidden fats and excess sugar in all food products, and not ...Read More >
Patna, Aug 1 (PTI) Healthcare services were affected at AIIMS-Patna on Friday as resident doctors went on an "indefinite strike" in protest against the alleged high-handedness of Sheohar MLA Chetan Anand. According to a press statement issued by the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA), AIIMS-Patna, on Friday, "The RDA expresses deep disappointment and anguish over the lack of action by the administration following the violent and traumatic incident that occurred on Wednesday, when MLA Chetan Anand, his wife and their armed guards breached hospital security, physically assaulted staff, and thr ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 15 (ANI): After some media reports claimed that Indian snacks like Samosa, Jalebis, etc will carry health warnings, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Tuesday issued a fact check stating that display of Sugar and Oil boards is general advisory to make people aware of hidden fats and excess sugar in all food products, and not specifically to any particular food product. It further clarified that the advisory of the Union Health Ministry has not been selective towards Indian snacks and does not target India rich street food culture. In a social media post on X, the P ...Read More >
Bengaluru: For millions of people, the sudden, sharp pain of tooth due to sensitivity can turn a sip of cold water into a jolt. Now, researchers at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in collaboration with Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup Theranautilus, have engineered "CalBots" - magnetic nanobots that can seal the problem at its source.As per IISc, CalBots are 400-nanometre particles loaded with a calcium silicate-based bioceramic formula, designed to travel 500 micrometres deep inside dentinal tubules, the tiny tunnels in the tooth that lead to nerve endings. Guided by an external magnetic ...Read More >
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 7 (ANI): On the occasion of World Food Safety Day 2025, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, JP Nadda, delivered the keynote address at a special programme themed 'Stop Obesity by Eating Safe and Healthy' at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru on Saturday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a release. JP Nadda said that a healthy India is necessary for Viksit Bharat, and that can be ensured through the right types of food, healthy food habits, and lifestyle. Organized by the Food Safety an ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) Adopting a healthier lifestyle is more effective than using the anti-diabetes drug metformin, with the benefits persisting over 20 years later, according to a study. The US Diabetes Prevention Program, launched in 1996, enrolled 3,234 patients with prediabetes from 30 institutions across 22 states. The study aimed to compare the benefits of metformin and a lifestyle modification that included exercise and a healthy diet. Researchers from The University of New Mexico, US, found that making lifestyle changes lowered the development of diabetes by 24 per cent, while the a ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 14 (PTI) The Union health ministry has urged all ministries, departments and autonomous bodies to display "oil and sugar board" mentioning the sugar and oil content in Indian snacks such as samosa, kachori, french fries and vadapav to promote healthy lifestyles and combat obesity and non-communicable diseases. It has also called for printing health messages on all official stationeries such as letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders, etc and publications to reinforce daily reminders on fighting obesity. Also Read | Will Japanese Bullet Train Not Run Between Ahmedabad and Mu ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 19 (ANI): A contingent of 23 athletes supported by Reliance Foundation look to compete at the World University Games across six cities in Germany, with events running until July 27. Representing athletics, archery, and judo, these young talents aim to improve international rankings, achieve personal bests, and bring home laurels. The athletics team forms the backbone of the foundation campaign, with 18 athletes competing in sprints, jumps, throws, hurdles, relay, long jump, decathlon, among other events, beginning July 21, a release said. James Hillier, Di ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Jun 27 (PTI) The mother of jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and another person accompanying her died after being shot at by unidentified bike-borne people in Punjab's Batala, police said on Friday. Harjit Kaur was critically injured after the incident on Thursday late evening and was referred to a hospital in Amritsar, but she succumbed to the bullet injuries, a senior police official from Batala said over the phone. Also Read | Mounjaro KwikPen: Eli Lilly and Company's Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity Drug Gets Approval in India, To Compete With Novo's Weight-Loss Drug Wegovy. The ...Read More >
Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh): Marking the Cooperatives Year, a two-day national seminar will be inaugurated on Friday at the Swarn Jayanti Auditorium of Vikram University. Farmers from five major states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Goa are set to participate in the seminar, 'Dairy Development in Madhya Pradesh: Possibilities and Challenges', under the joint aegis of the Indian Dairy Association (DA) West Zone, and Vikram University (VU). Researchers, students, milk producers from across the country, where over two lakh cooperative societies function, along with experts ...Read More >
New Delhi: The central government on Tuesday denied media reports which claimed that the Ministry of Health has issued health warnings on Indian snacks such as samosas, jalebi, and laddoo to fight obesity crises in the country. It noted that the warning labels on food issued by the Ministry of Health are "not selective towards Indian snacks". "Some media reports claim that the @MoHFW_INDIA has issued a health warning on food products such as samosas, jalebi, and laddoo. This claim is fake. The advisory of the Union Health Ministry does not carry any warning labels on food products sold by ve ...Read More >
European stocks rose on Friday, heading for small weekly gains, as investors focused on corporate earnings to assess the impact of US tariffs on businesses. The STOXX 600 index climbed 0.3% to 548.84 points, set for its second weekly gain. Other major indexes, including Germany's DAX, France's CAC40, and Britain's FTSE 100, also saw modest increases. Swedish defense company Saab jumped 12.7%, leading the STOXX 600, after reporting better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and raising its sal ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 31 (ANI): The clarion call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fight obesity and reduce oil consumption has received wide support as people from different walks of life, including actor Akshay Kumar, sportspersons and people from medical fraternity lauded the message to follow healthy routine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently gave a clarion call to fight obesity and reduce oil consumption. This has received wide support from doctors, sportspersons as well as people from different walks of life. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi inaugurated the 38th National G ...Read More >
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 7 (ANI): Union Health Minister JP Nadda has called for a unified effort from the government, industry, academia, and citizens to promote safe and healthy eating practices across the country, particularly among children. Speaking during the launch of 'Stop Obesity by Eating Safe and Healthy' initiative on World Food Safety Day 2025 at NIMHANS in Karnataka's Bengaluru, Nadda underscored the importance of food safety and nutrition. He announced a new government initiative within the NCERT curriculum aimed at educating students about healthy dietary habits. 'I ...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 >
HYDERABAD, India -- The death toll from Monday's massive explosion and fire at a pharmaceutical factory in India's southern state of Telangana has risen to at least 36 while about three dozen were left injured, authorities said Tuesday. The fire department recovered the charred bodies of 34 workers from the accident site in an industrial area about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the state capital Hyderabad, the state's fire services director G.V. Narayana Rao told The Associated Press. Two other workers succumbed to burns and were pronounced dead in hospital, Rao said, adding that debris of t ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: BRS president and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was admitted to Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda on Thursday evening after he complained of weakness. According to a statement issued by the Yashoda Hospitals, KCR underwent medical tests. "Preliminary investigations revealed high blood sugar levels and low sodium levels. All other vital parameters are within normal limits. He is under close observation, and medications have been initiated to control his diabetes and correct the sodium imbalance. His condition is stable," the health bulletin issued by the hospital said. Mea ...Read More >
Hyderabad, Jul 4 (PTI) BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao was admitted to hospital for a routine health check-up and there are no serious health concerns, his son and BRS Working President K T Rama Rao said on Friday. The doctors have advised the former chief minister to be in hospital for a few days to monitor his blood sugar and low sodium levels, Rao said. "No serious health concerns at all. All his vitals are normal. I thank all those who have been enquiring about his wellbeing," he said in a post on 'X'. Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar and AIMIM president Asaduddin ...Read More >
Pithoragarh: A tragic accident in Pithoragarh has claimed the lives of at least eight people and left several seriously injured after a passenger vehicle reportedly plunged into a river. The incident occurred near Bhandari village in the Muwani area as the vehicle was travelling from Muwani to Bokta in the district. Senior Superintendent of Police Rekha Yadav confirmed the fatalities, stating that eight individuals died at the scene. Rescue operations are currently underway, with the three critically injured victims having been admitted to the local government hospital. ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], August 25 (ANI): India's contract research, development, and manufacturing organisation (CRDMO) sector is emerging as one of the most dynamic growth stories in the global pharmaceutical landscape. According to a recent Jefferies India report, the country's CRDMO, which has already reached revenues of around USD 3 billion, has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14 per cent over the past five years. The report highlights that India's CRDMO industry has caught the attention of global investors, with its market capitalization now standing at USD 40-50 billion. Whi ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, June 27 (UNI) Amid rising cases of diabetes, over 5 crore Indians remain undiagnosed, prompting urgent calls for regular screening and lifestyle changes. India faces an alarming diabetes prevalence of 11.4 per cent, with over 10 crore people currently living with the condition, Dr Naresh Purohit, Advisor for the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Diabetes, said. Quoting his recent scientific report published in the Australian Journal of Public Health, acclaimed physician pointed out that God's own country, 'Kerala', is witnessing a dramatic demographic shift ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Following the acquisition of JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals (JB Chem), Torrent Pharma is set to become India's fifth-largest pharmaceutical company, capturing a 4.6% share of the Rs 2.3 lakh crore organised retail market.The acquisition boosts Torrent Pharma's rank from 7th to 5th place, increasing its market share from 3.6% to 4.6%, according to data gathered by TOI from market intelligence firm Pharmarack.Sun Pharma leads the highly fragmented pharma market with sales of over Rs 19,000 crore and an 8.3% share (Moving Annual Total or 12-month period ended May '25). The Ahmedabad-ba ...Read More >