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.
KOLKATA, India, Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marking a transformative milestone in cardiac care, Manipal Hospitals, one of the largest healthcare networks in India announced the successful insertion of an AI-driven, wireless injectable pacemaker. The Aveir Leadless pacemaker by Abbott, recently introduced in India, was implanted in a 65-year-old woman at Manipal Hospital, Dhakuria, making it the first center in Eastern India to perform this procedure. The device, already in use in the US and Europe, offers a safer, less invasive alternative to traditional pacemakers. The second and third procedures in the region were also conducted at Medica Superspecialty Hospital (A unit of Manipal Hospitals) and Manipal, Mukundapur. The event was attended by eminent cardiologists from Manipal Hospitals, including Dr. P.K. Hazra, Interventional Cardiologist, Manipal Hospital, Dhakuria, Dr. Sumanta Chatterjee, Consultant Cardiologist, Manipal Hospital, Dhakuria, Dr. Soumya Kanti Dutta, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Manipal Hospital, Dhakuria, and Dr. Dilip Kumar, Director of the Cardiac Cath Lab & Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist & Electrophysiologist, Medica Superspecialty Hospital (An unit of Manipal Hospitals) and Mr. Rajesh Pareekh, Unit Head at Manipal Hospital Dhakuria. Weighing just 2.4 grams, the Aveir Leadless pacemaker uses nanotechnology to stay securely in the heart and lasts 20-25 years -- three times longer than traditional pacemakers. Its non-magnetic design ensures compatibility with airport scanners, MRIs, and high-voltage currents, preserving daily functionality of the patient. Dr. P.K. Hazra, Interventional Cardiologist, Manipal Hospital, Dhakuria explained, "The non-rechargeable Aveir Leadless pacemaker offers a key advantage: it can be upgraded from a single to a dual-chamber configuration, efficiently managing the right atrium and ventricle. This pacemaker eliminates the need for invasive surgery and external wires, and features Bluetooth-enabled technology for remote monitoring and adjustments. Specialists worldwide can now montor the patient." Dr. Dilip Kumar, Director of the Cardiac Cath Lab & Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist & Electrophysiologist, Medica Superspecialty Hospital (An unit of Manipal Hospitals) stated, "While wireless pacemakers are not new, the previous models couldn't pace both chambers -- the atrium and the ventricles. The pacemaker reduces the risks of hematoma formation, infections, lead dislodgement, and other lead-related issues." Dr. Soumya Kanti Dutta, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Manipal Hospital, Dhakuria, added, "This pacemaker is injected directly into the heart's right ventricle, eliminating the need for external wires and surgical pockets, which are the primary causes of infections in patients. This device is perfect for those with compromised immunity, skin issues, patients on dialysis or, blood thinners. The device's minimally invasive nature also makes it ideal for those concerned about scarring." India is now the third country to adopt the USFDA and European-approved injectable pacemaker, offering a permanent solution to enhance patients' quality of life. Notably, the procedure can only be carried out by professionals with proper training and certification About Manipal Hospitals: As a pioneer in healthcare, Manipal Hospitals is among the top healthcare providers in India serving over 7 million patients annually. Its focus is to develop an affordable, high-quality healthcare framework through its multispecialty and tertiary care delivery spectrum and further extend it to out-of-hospital care. With the completion of the acquisition of Medica Synergie hospitals and AMRI Hospitals Limited (acquired in Sept 2023), the integrated network today has a pan-India footprint of 37 hospitals across 19 cities with 10,500+ beds and a talented pool of 5,600+ doctors and an employee strength of over 18,600. Manipal Hospitals provides comprehensive curative and preventive care for a multitude of patients from around the globe. Manipal Hospitals is NABH and AAHRPP accredited, and most of the hospitals in its network are NABL, ER, and Blood Bank accredited and recognized for Nursing Excellence. Manipal Hospitals has also been recognized as the most respected and patient-recommended hospital in India through various consumer surveys. Please visit: https://www.manipalhospitals.com/ Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2571841/Manipal_Hospital_Aveir_Leadless_pacemaker.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1941277/Manipal_Hospital_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/manipal-hospitals-successfully-performs-eastern-indias-first-ai-powered-injectable-wireless-pacemaker-insertion-302320881.html
CHITTOOR (Andhra Pradesh): The Apollo University, Apollo Hospitals and University of Leicester, United Kingdom, have partnered to establish the Centre for Digital Health and Precision Medicine (CDHPM) at The Apollo University campus in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh. The advanced research center will bring together the expertise and resources of both institutions to create a global hub for digital health and precision medicine. The CDHPM will be the hub in Chittoor, India. The hub at the University of Leicester will be based at the BHF Cardiovascular Research Centre at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester ...Read More >
Guwahati: Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a massive healthcare infrastructure overhaul for Assam, while inaugurating the Neotia Bhagirathi Woman and Childcare Centre (NBWCC) in Guwahati here on Thursday.During the event, the Assam CM revealed plans to invest Rs 4000 crore in expanding the Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) into a 5000-bed facility.He also praised the newly-inaugurated NBWC centre saying that he was happy that the group had invested in Assam " I am sure that the people of Assam, along with other northeastern states, will immensely benefit from this venture o ...Read More >

Mumbai, July 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Lower back pain is a national crisis that can affect the country's productivity, said Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani on Friday, urging entrepreneurs to build India's first AI-powered spinal diagnostic platform. He was addressing the 5th Annual Conference of the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery-Asia Pacific (SMISS-AP), in Mumbai. The Adani Group Chairman expressed shock over lower back pain becoming a leading cause of disability in the country and noted how it can destroy the dreams of the nation. "I was shocked to learn that low back pain is n ...Read More >
Speaking at IIT Bombay's Techfest 2024, Mr Adani, the 27-year old younger son of infrastructure magnate Gautam Adani, said the future of technology is both scary and exciting. India cannot stay out of global technological race, said Jeet Adani. Mumbai: India cannot stay out of global technological race and should build capabilities that will keep it at the top while remaining vigilant against its misuse, said Jeet Adani, Director, Adani Airport Holdings Ltd. Speaking at IIT Bombay's Techfest ...Read More >

New Delhi: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing from all angles, including sabotage, in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad that killed 274 people on board and on the ground last month, Minister of State (MoS) For Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said. Mohol said the black box of the Air India flight AI 171 that has been recovered is in AAIB's custody and will not be outside the country for a thorough assessment. The MoS was speaking at the Pune chapter of the Emerging Business Conclave. "It (plane crash) was an unfortunate incident. The AAIB has begun a full investig ...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 >
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, Jul 6 (PTI) The Delhi government on Sunday appointed over 1,300 new nursing officers and launched Ayushman Bharat registration vans to strengthen the healthcare system in the national capital. The event was attended by BJP president J P Nadda, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Health Minister Pankaj Singh, and other senior ministers. Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Gupta sharply criticised the previous government, alleging that it had allowed the capital's health infrastructure to deteriorate significantly. "In the past, Delhi's healthcare was in such a poor state that t ...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 >

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 >

Lucknow, Jul 14 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said the state's health services must be made future-ready to keep pace with global advancements and effectively respond to emerging challenges. He was speaking at the foundation stone laying and inauguration ceremony of various health projects worth Rs 1,000 crore at King George's Medical University (KGMU) here. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who also holds the Health portfolio, and Medical Education Minister Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh were present on the occasion. The chief minister said institutions like K ...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 >

New Delhi, May 29 (PTI) A genetic study has traced a 2023 outbreak of a neurological infection in Tamil Nadu to contaminated saline water used at a dental clinic, findings of which were published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia journal. Twenty-one probable cases of neuromelioidosis -- a neurological infection caused by bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei -- between July 2022 and April 2023 were identified across four districts in the northern part of the state. Seventeen of the 21 cases came from a single district, of which 10 reported undertaking treatment at a dental clinic. T ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...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 >

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 >
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 >

Srinagar, Jul 15: Over a decade since the devastating floods of 2014 rendered a major part of the Bone and Joint Hospital here 'unsafe', the new building funded by World Bank as part of Jhelum-Tawi Flood Recovery Project was inaugurated today by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The new hospital building is expected to alleviate the inconveniences faced by patients and doctors at the congested, dilapidated existing structures. The new state-of-art building is a G+5 structure with modular operation theatres that was set to be completed in 2020, however, it suffered multiple deadline lapses. T ...Read More >

POONCH, June 29: To strengthen their campaign to aware the common populace about the ill effects of cardiovascular diseases, Head Department of Cardiology GMCH Jammu in collaboration with management of Gurudwara Sant Bhai Bahadur Singh Ji held a day long cardiac awareness cum health checkup camp at Dharamsal Khari Poonch. The camp was inaugurated by SSP Poonch Shafket Hussain, Dr Sushil Sharma along with ADC Tahir Mustafa, Harcharan Singh, Hardev Singh, Sunil Sharma (president Bar Association Poonch ) , Naresh Chander Raj (Ex Councillor MC), Mohinder Singh (Ex Councillor MC) and others promin ...Read More >

By BD Narayankar Bengaluru, July 8 (UNI) India must scale up private sector funding and treat quantum as a serious business opportunity if it wants to compete globally in the next wave of technology, said Professor Arindam Ghosh of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) today. "Government can only fund the early stage; the private sector must carry it forward," he said, pointing to the fact that global government investments in quantum research range from $1 billion to $3.5 billion, with the US and China alone committing over $2 billion each. "When industry participation is added, those num ...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 >

Ranchi, June 27: The health of Jharkhand's political stalwart and JMM founder, Rajya Sabha MP Shibu Soren remains critical. JMM has also expressed concern over the health of Dishom Guru Shibu Soren, admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi. Party spokesperson Manoj Pandey said on Friday that a team of doctors is continuously treating him and he has been kept in the ICU, where only limited people are allowed to meet him. Spokesperson Manoj Pandey informed that Shibu Soren's health is stable right now, although no significant improvement or deterioration has been seen in it. He said that al ...Read More >

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the state government to file separate FIRs for each death, provide ₹10 lakh compensation to each bereaved family, and suspend the licence of Mission Hospital, Damoh, after revelations that an unqualified man posing as a UK-based heart specialist caused multiple patient deaths. In its order dated July 1, the NHRC held the state accountable for gross negligence after it was found that Narendra Vikramaditya Yadav, masquerading as renowned cardiologist Dr. N John Camm, conducted at least 15 cardiac procedures betwee ...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 >

Srinagar, July 09: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that Jammu & Kashmir's tourism sector is witnessing a strong revival, with a steady rise in the number of tourists visiting the Union Territory each day.Abdullah, while addressing reporters in West Bengal ahead of the Kolkata Tourism Fair, said, "Tourists are coming back to Kashmir in good numbers. The ongoingAmarnathYatra is proceeding smoothly with heavy footfall on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes, he said."I spoke to several pilgrims, and they are all happy and satisfied with the arrangements. I have come to Kolkata to ta ...Read More >

Malappuram: The health department has issued a high alert in six districts of Kerala -- Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Thrissur -- after a suspected Nipah virus-related death was reported on July 12. Hospitals in all these districts have been asked to exercise caution and intensify surveillance to prevent a potential outbreak. The deceased is a 57-year-old man from Mannarkkad in Palakkad, who tested positive for Nipah infection in preliminary examinations conducted at the Government Medical College Hospital in Malappuram. Health Minister Veena George stated that confirm ...Read More >

Kolkata, Jul 15 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hailed the safe return of Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla from space, calling it a matter of national pride. Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, on Tuesday returned to the Earth after an 18-day stay at the International Space Station. Also Read | Will Samosa and Jalebi Display Cigarette-Style Health Warnings? PIB Fact Check Debunks Fake News, Says Health Ministry's Advisory Doesn't Mention Warning Labels on Indian Food Products. "Welcome home, Shubhanshu Shukla! We are r ...Read More >
The total cost of the second phase of the project is estimated at $83.3 million, with the Tanzanian government contributing $8.33 million in counterpart funding. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $75 million loan to Tanzania for the second phase of the Centre of Excellence for Skills and Tertiary Education in Biomedical Sciences project, aimed at tackling the growing burden of cardiovascular disease in the country and the broader East African region. The total cost of the second phase of the project is estimated at $83.3 million, with the Tanzanian government contributing $8 ...Read More >
GUNTUR: In a significant push to urban infrastructure, the Andhra Pradesh government has sanctioned an additional Rs 111.5 crore to strengthen the drinking water supply system in the Mangalagiri-Tadepalli Municipal Corporation (MTMC), represented by Minister Nara Lokesh. Administrative approval was issued by Special Chief Secretary S Suresh Kumar of the Urban Development Department. The new funding is part of a comprehensive project to ensure safe and uninterrupted drinking water supply. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) worth Rs 450.24 crore was earlier prepared to serve 21 villages. Of this, ...Read More >