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.
On challenges ahead for India's battle with HIV/AIDS; toxic waste in Bhopal and toxic air everywhere, insurance that covers outpatient consults and more Thirty-eight years ago, when the first set of HIV cases in India were detected in Tamil Nadu by a professor of microbiology at Madras Medical College and her student, the news was met with shock, disbelief and even anger at the women who had made the discovery. The disease was associated with the 'debauched' West; India it was thought, rooted in tradition, would have nothing to fear. But the government stepped up: a massive screening, prevention and treatment programme was subsequently launched, and nearly four decades later, while India can be justifiably proud that new infections in 2023 were almost 44% lower than in 2010, and AIDS-related deaths declined by 79%, it is regrettable that the stigma that was associated with the disease all those years ago, persists even today. World AIDS Day, observed on December 1, is a reminder that not only is there an urgent need to sustain progress that has been made, several challenges remain, and India has some way to go in rising to them: disparities in access to the vital antiretroviral therapy (ART) continue, and, as HIV increasingly intersects with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, it is vital to integrate it into broader primary health systems, say Sunil Solomon, A.K. Ganesh and Aylur K. Srikrishnan. If you're interested in State specifics, do check out these pieces: Shrabana Chatterjee writes on the difficulties in tracking patients in West Bengal; Afshan Yasmeen details the acute shortage of CD4 testing kits in Karnataka; Serena Josephine M. gives an overview of Tamil Nadu's plans to build capacity among persons living with HIV/AIDS and Siddharth Kumar Singh explains how Telangana is stepping up awareness efforts. Just a day after AIDS Day however, is another significant day in India's history: December 2 and 3 mark the anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy. Forty years after toxic methyl isocyanate gas released from the Union Carbide India's pesticide plant killing about 15,000 people and injuring at least five lakh others, hundreds of tonnes of toxic waste remain on the premises: despite multiple court orders and warnings, government authorities have not disposed of the waste safely, Nikhil M. Babureports. What does this waste comprise and how does it continue to affect the health of people in Bhopal today? Here's an explainer by Vasudevan Mukunth. And in a related explainer, C. Aravinda details how sewer gases kill and how, a lack of protective equipment for workers engaged for the banned profession of manual scavenging, leads to their deaths. Moving on from toxic gases to toxic air, the Centre, in the Lok Sabha, has said that there is no conclusive data available in the country to establish a direct correlation between any disease caused exclusively by air pollution, even as Delhi's air vacillates between 'poor' and 'very poor'. Perhaps then, it's time for the government to launch a study? Respiratory diseases, diabetes, heart disease and stroke too, have been linked with air pollution globally, and on that note, C. Maya writes about a study that says given the current incidence of stroke in India, there should be at least 2 lakh thrombectomies a year, but no more than 3,000 procedures are taking place at present. And, as Aruna Bhattacharya points out in this timely reminder on non-communicable diseases, the lack of understanding of the need for screening, early detection and preventive pathways leads to catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure. Speaking of out-of-pocket expenditure on health, can insurance that covers all your outpatient costs -- such as those for doctor consults, diagnostic tests and medication -- help decrease the burden of medical costs while also bringing down future hospitalisations? A.S. Jayanth explores this idea based on a consultancy firm's report on OPD insurance coverage that found better health outcomes among employees who had it. Meanwhile the furore over GST on health insurance policies continues: Bindu Shajan Perappadan reports that the Centre is awaiting a recommendation from a Group of Ministers constituted by the GST Council to take a final decision on an exemption/reduction. Outside of India too, there have been some health developments of note. While the World Health Organization has called for stronger surveillance in animals for evidence of infection with H5N1 avian flu in order to curb its spread, Vinod Scaria and Bani Jolly in this article, underscore the need for increased surveillance and targeted interventions, as concerns mount about the adaptability of the virus and possible mutations that could facilitate human-to-human transmission. Two international developments that have been subject to intense debate also made the news this week: British lawmakers have given their initial approval to a Bill to help terminally ill adults end their lives in England and Wales, while the Australian senate passed a social media ban for children under 16. Our tailpiece for the week is this call by Dinesh S. Thakur and Prashant Reddy T. to ban the manufacture and sale, in India, of Ranitidine, the acid reflux treatment drug, which has been found to be carcinogenic. If you have a few minutes to spare, to delve into one or more of our explainers this week: Monisha Madhumita explains what the under-diagnosed autoimmune condition Sjögren's disease is. Tejah Balantrapu and Gullapalli N. Rao make the case for a consent-driven approach to address the acute shortage of corneas in the country. Deepa Hariharan emphasises the need for aggressive and appropriate action to address early gestation stillbirths to help meet India's goal of a single-digit stillbirth rate by 2030. Biju Dharmapalan decodes the controversy over heavy metals being found in dark chocolate. I podcast on how what goes on in your gut, affects your brain. While Vid Karmakar lays outs steps to combat lung cancer, Bhawna Sirohi highlights the need for an approach to help bridge the access and affordability gap in cancer care. Geetha Srimathi details Tamil Nadu's efforts towards improved data collection on snakebites. For many more health stories, head to our health page and subscribe to the health newsletter here. Published - December 03, 2024 04:13 pm IST Read Comments
Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh): The police have identified one of the suspects involved in the ₹5 lakh robbery from PHE contractor Vinay Anand in Gwalior. The suspect, Manish Yadav, a resident of Katihar, Bihar, was captured in CCTV footage and traced to Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Watch the CCTV clip below :- Authorities are now working with local police in Agra to locate and apprehend him. The Crime Branch has been conducting raids in Bihar to locate the gang members. As, it has also been revealed that the same gang was involved in a similar robbery in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. The incident According ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Dec 18 (PTI) Noise levels exceeded the prescribed limits during singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh's concert here on Saturday, the Chandigarh administration told the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday. The submission was made by the administration before a division bench of the high court. "Strict action" has been recommended against the violators, the court was further informed. On December 13, the high court had allowed Dosanjh's event scheduled to take place the next evening, with a direction that the organisers comply with the noise pollution regulations. While greenlighti ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, Jan 31 (PTI) The Odisha Vigilance Department on Friday arrested an official of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) of Mayurbhanj district after detecting disproportionate assets in his possession. The arrested official was a project administrator at the ITDA in the district's Bonai area. Also Read | 'Touched Private Parts Pricked With Pen': Tuition Teacher in Nagaur, Rajasthan Sexually Abused Class 2 Girl for 6 Months, Arrested. A case has been registered at the Rourkela vigilance police station against the official and his wife under various sections of Prevention ...Read More >
Mumbai: The birth of three penguin chicks at Mumbai's Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo has sparked an unexpected row not over their care, but their names. BJP functionary Nitin Bankar from the Byculla Assembly constituency has objected to the chicks being given English names, insisting they be named in Marathi instead. The BMC is expected to respond by June 10, after which Bankar will decide his next move. Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Bankar said, "When penguins were brought from abroad, we accepted that their names would be in English. But these chicks were born on the soil of M ...Read More >
In this edition of Frontline Conversations, former Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare discusses how the Ladki Bahin scheme, which provided direct cash transfers to 2.35 crore women, transformed both the economic landscape and political dynamics of the State. The programme, which distributed Rs.7,500 across five instalments to women earning less than Rs. 2.5 lakh annually, not only empowered women with financial independence but also proved to be a decisive factor in Mahayuti's electoral victory, marking a shift in Maharashtra's traditionally male-dominated political ...Read More >
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced several pre-election promises targeting auto drivers. These include a ₹10 lakh insurance policy, ₹1 lakh for daughters' marriages, a biannual ₹2,500 uniform allowance, free coaching for their children, and the relaunch of the 'PoochO' ride-booking app. Kejriwal and the AAP are campaigning to secure a third term in the upcoming February elections.Ahead of crucial Delhi assembly polls, Arvind Kejriwal promised several measures for auto dri ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly on Tuesday witnessed a noisy scene as Opposition BJD and Congress members held protests inside the House over alleged non-payment of salaries to around 60,000 women supporting staffers under the 'Mission Shakti' scheme. Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik accused the BJP government of "conspiring to stop" salaries of the 'Mission Shakti' staff. As soon as the Question Hour began, the BJD and Congress members trooped to the well of the House and demanded immediate release of salaries of around 60,000 women supporting staff working under the 'Mission Shakti' sch ...Read More >
Mumbai: The death toll in Monday's BEST bus crash rose to seven and the number of injured to 42 even as the driver, Sanjay More, booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, claimed he had noticed a spark and mistakenly accelerated the bus instead of applying brakes. Seeking More's custody, police said they want to investigate if he intentionally used the vehicle as a weapon. The bus on Route 332 had accelerated on a congested 200m stretch near Kurla station hitting vehicles and pedestr ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], May 19 (ANI): Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said that his ministry's resolve is to increase the Kharif crop production while reducing the production cost. He added that the synergy between the agricultural research and the farmers will be increased. The Minister was speaking to reporters here after a meeting with the State agricultural ministers. "Today, I held a meeting with the Agriculture ministers of all the states...Agriculture is important for the country, whether it is a question of livelihood, employment, contribution to the economy or ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Fintech firm BimaPay Finsure on Thursday said it has entered into corporate insurance financing and aims for Rs 20 crore in premiums in 2025-26. Launching the pilot phase with insurance partners, BimaPay said the initiative will allow businesses to pay premiums in easy equated monthly instalments (EMIs) instead of bearing the burden of full upfront costs. Also Read | Who Is Pinaki Misra? From Age to Family Background and Net Worth, Here's All About BJD Leader With Whom Mahua Moitra Reportedly Married. The company aims to finance over Rs 20 crore worth of premiums by t ...Read More >
Chennai, Dec 10 (PTI) Standalone health insurance company Star Health Insurance has targeted doubling its business in Tamil Nadu over the next four years, a top official said. As part of its growth strategy, the company plans to add 12,000 new agents across Tamil Nadu and expand its footprint with 25 new offices in both rural and urban areas in FY2025. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission Latest News: Narendra Modi Government Likely To Hike DA for Employees by 3% in January 2025, Check Details. Star ...Read More >
Ranchi: On the occasion of World Environment Day on Thursday, chief minister Hemant Soren appealed to the people of Jharkhand to put a stop to plastic usage. He emphasised the urgent need for collective action from all quarters to promote a sustainable and environment-friendly approach.Addressing the public during environment day programme besides inaugurating the Siromtoli flyover, the CM said that rampant plastic usage was a pressing concern, and efforts were being made to put an end to it. He appealed for a shift towards alternative options to plastic."The time has come to change our habits ...Read More >
Heavy rains across Tamil Nadu have led to school closures in several districts, including Chennai, on Thursday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert, predicting moderate rains and light thunderstorms in parts of the state. Rainfall figures show significant precipitation in multiple areas. Meanwhile, Northern India braces for a cold wave beginning December 9, with the IMD forecasting plunging temperatures in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.Schools acros ...Read More >
PRNewswire Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], December 13: Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited, the first standalone health insurance company in India, today announced the launch of its revolutionary retail health insurance product, 'SUPER STAR'. This innovative policy offers a long-term policy for the retail health segment, combining advanced features and highly customisable covers to address the growing complexities of modern lifestyles, rising medical expenses, and unforeseen emergencies. * Offers a long-term policy and unparalleled, highly customisable solutions for evolving heal ...Read More >
Keonjhar: The last rites of Lata Mohanta (58), an organ donor from Kodakhaman village in Patna block, was performed with state honours. Mohanta, wife of Kulamani Mahanta, passed away at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar after a brief illness following her brain stroke. Her family honoured her last wish by consenting to donate her organs, her liver successfully transplanted into another patient. "State honours were accorded to recognize her noble sacrifice and promote awareness about organ donation," said additional district magistrate Mandardhar Mahalik, who attended the ceremony. She was gi ...Read More >
Lucknow: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended Rehmat Ali, a recovery agent with Prathma UP Gramin Bank in Rampur, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a complainant.According to officials, CBI registered case on Jun 4, against Ali and unknown public servants based on allegations that the accused demanded illegal gratification to facilitate the processing of a Rs 4 lakh insurance claim. Ali reportedly assured the complainant that he could influence the bank's branch manager to expedite the claim in return for the bribe. Following verification of the compl ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, June 5 (UNI) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday urged the people to resolve to end plastic pollution and maintain a healthy, clean environment. "Today, let us pledge to eliminate plastic pollution and create a healthier, cleaner environment for our citizens," Majhi said while addressing the state-level World Environment Day event. He noted that plastic has become an integral part of our lives, especially single-use plastics. Stressing that plastic waste must be ad ...Read More >
New norms to avoid another Bengaluru stampede, said Home Minister G Parameshwara. Bengaluru: Karnataka government will formulate a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for mega events, meetings and celebrations aimed at preventing any untoward incidents, state Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Thursday. The initiative comes in the wake of the stampede near the Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday that claimed 11 lives. Speaking to reporters, Mr Parameshwara said that the governm ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 10 (PTI) 'I'm Still Here' (Portugal), a 2024 political biographical drama film directed by Walter Salles will be the opening film of the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) beginning here on December 13. The movie, a Brazil-France co-production, deals with the story of a mother and activist searching for her missing husband, a dissident politician during the military dictatorship in Brazil. The festival will be officially inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a function to be held at the Nisagandhi auditorium on December 13 evening, St ...Read More >
Srinagar, Jan 31: Online gambling has become a growing menace in Kashmir, driving several families into severe financial distress and emotional turmoil. The easy accessibility of online betting platforms has lured many, particularly youth, with the illusion of quick financial gains. However, this often results in heavy monetary losses, debt and psychological suffering. According to details obtained by the news agency -- Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a youth from south Kashmir initially won Rs 10,000 in online betting within a few days. Encouraged by this, he borrowed lakhs of rupees from neigh ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava on Thursday outlined an urgent need to curb plastic pollution as it negatively impacted marine life, suffocated terrestrial ecosystems, leached harmful chemicals into soil and water. In addition, it contributed significantly to air pollution when burnt, he said. The statement came on the occasion of World Environment Day and was uploaded on the NGTs website. Shrivastava said that plastic had become an indispensable part of our lives, yet its convenience masked a devastating reality. "This nonbiodegradabl ...Read More >
Guwahati, June 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) The flood situation in Assam marginally improved on Thursday, while the situation further improved in other northeastern states, an official said. With two more fresh deaths in Assam, the death toll in seven states, excluding Sikkim, of the region increased to 48. According to the disaster management officials of different northeastern states, out of 48 deaths during the current spell of rain and floods since May 29, at least 21 people died in Assam, followed by 12 in Arunachal Pradesh, six in Meghalaya, five in Mizoram, two in Tripura and one each in Nagalan ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram | 'I'm Still Here' (Portugal), a 2024 political biographical drama film directed by Walter Salles will be the opening film of the 29th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) beginning here on December 13. The movie, a Brazil-France co-production, deals with the story of a mother and activist searching for her missing husband, a dissident politician during the military dictatorship in Brazil. The festival will be officially inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a function to be held at the Nisagandhi auditorium on December 13 evening, State Culture ...Read More >
NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule is consulting experts on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) following Maharashtra's assembly poll results. The opposition questions EVM credibility after the Mahayuti coalition's significant win. Sule advocates for ballot papers, citing other countries' adoption, and will announce a final decision soon.NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule on Saturday said the opinion of experts is being sought over the "EVM issue" in the wake of the Maharashtra assembly polls' mandate as she b ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 13 (PTI) Subscribers of the retirement fund body EPFO may soon be able to withdraw money from their accounts through ATMs, a top official said. Union Labour Secretary Sumita Dawra has reportedly stated in a media report that the labour ministry is upgrading information technology infrastructure to provide enhanced services to the Indian workforce. She further said that claimants, beneficiaries or insured individuals will be able to access their claims through an ATM. According to the media report, the withdrawal will be capped at 50 per cent of the Employees' Provident Fund ( ...Read More >
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 5 (ANI): The Karnataka High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the state government over the stampede incident near the Chinnaswamy Stadium that claimed the lives of 11 people and left several injured. The High Court took suo motu cognisance of the incident and asked for a further status report. 'News items have been published in various newspapers, narrating the tragedy that happened when 11 persons died and 75 were injured during the course of the victory celebration of RCB. This court is taking cognisance of the incident,' the High Court said. 'Senio ...Read More >
The Bihar government on Thursday (June 5, 2025) sanctioned compensation of ₹8.25 lakh under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, to the family members of the 11-year-old Dalit girl who was raped and brutally assaulted with a knife, and later succumbed to her injuries at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) on June 1. The State also announced a monthly pension of ₹7,700 for the victim's family, in addition to the allotment of a house under the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana. According to officials, the girl, who was transferred from Muzaffarpu ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Singles, Doubles, and the Team Championship - the 18-year-old Chennai girl, the daughter of an auto driver from Kasimedu, left nothing for competitors from around the world at the sixth edition of the Carrom World Cup held in the US which Team India swept. The Women's Singles final was a hard-fought contest, where the 18-year-old M Khazima kept her nerves to defeat 12-time national and multiple World Cup winner Rashmi Kumari from Bihar. With this victory, Khazima became the youngest Carrom World Champion. Khazima, whose father Mehaboob Basha is an auto driver from Kasimedu, had been ...Read More >
Entrepreneur and managing director of Homestays and villas and Mangalya destination weddings, Siddharth Bakaria, was the latest victim of the horror show that the city has turned into. Delhi's air and its declining quality have unfortunately become the hallmark of the general discourse of the country towards the end of the year and almost all throughout Winter. Lungs are Burning To no one's surprise, the Winter of 2024 is no different, with the landlocked capital city breaking the most undesirable records, very early on in the season. According to reports, Delhi and its neighbouring region ...Read More >
Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday that he held discussions on cabinet expansion with union home minister Amit Shah, party national president J P Nadda, and the party national general secretary B L Santhosh on Wednesday night. Fadnavis was on a two-day visit to Delhi days after being sworn in as chief minister. He met President Draupudi Murmu, PM Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh and union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari. He also presented five different ...Read More >