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.
Bengaluru, Jul 15 (PTI) No increase in deaths among cardiac patients or a rise in the number of admissions for cardiac ailments, Karnataka Minister Sharanprakash Patil, said on Tuesday, stating that the findings from Karnataka correspond with those of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. "So, people need not panic. There is no correlation between the COVID vaccine and these deaths," Patil told PTI Videos. Also Read | 'Welcome Back': Yogi Adityanath, Mayawati Hail Shubhanshu Shukla's Return to Earth After Completing Historic Axiom-4 Space Mission. Medical Education Minister along with Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, was addressing a press conference at Vikas Soudha to highlight the findings of reports by the Bengaluru-based National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) and Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences & Research (JICSR), Bengaluru. The reports investigated the rising trend of sudden cardiovascular events -- heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths. Also Read | 'While Babri Mosque Was Being Demolished, the Then PM PV Narasimha Rao Was Offering Prayers', Discloses Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagade. While NIMHANS reviewed the records of all confirmed SARS-CoV2 patients admitted from March to September 2020 with neurological symptoms -- about 3,200 in total -- JICSR studied 251 patients admitted between April 1 and May 31. According to the NIMHANS study, among the 3,200 patients treated for neurological illness during the study period, only 120 patients -- about 3.7 per cent -- had confirmed COVID-19 infection with neurological disorders. The JICSR study established that only 19 patients -- about 7.6 per cent -- recalled a prior infection, while virtually all (249/251) had received at least one vaccine dose. Dr K S Ravindranath, Director of JICSR, who was also present at the press conference, said the observational study conducted at JICSR did not find any association between premature cardiovascular disease and a prior history of COVID-19 infection or COVID vaccination. "Most studies and reports published in the rest of the world also have not found any causal association between COVID vaccination and sudden cardiovascular events. On the contrary, COVID vaccination has been shown to be protective against cardiac events in the long term," added Ravindranath. NIMHANS, citing numerous studies on long COVID, said its effects are primarily associated with molecular and functional disturbances, rather than structural or metabolic causes. "Understanding these findings may support strategies to build resilience and assist individuals in managing work-life balance," was one of the recommendations made by NIMHANS. Patil also said the belief that these cases are occurring only in Hassan is incorrect. Following reports of a rise in heart attack cases in Hassan district, there has been a significant surge in the number of patients visiting hospitals, as well as in the number of people seeking preventive checks. He also said a study is being conducted on the deaths of 24 individuals in Hassan. "Among these, only 10 were due to heart attacks; the remaining deaths were due to other causes," said Patil, citing preliminary findings. Patil said post-COVID lifestyle changes have led to a rise in diabetes and blood pressure cases. "Dietary habits have changed, and stress levels have increased. We are studying the reasons behind the rise in deaths among youth," he added. Gundu Rao insisted that there is no need for screening children for heart diseases. "We will organise awareness programmes through Jayadeva Hospital (JICSR)," he added. Meanwhile, both reports recommend a nationwide multi-centric registry -- or at least regional-level ones -- to study the long-term effects of both COVID infection and COVID vaccination-associated neurological disturbances. A multifaceted public health strategy, including a robust surveillance system for sudden cardiac deaths -- particularly among young adults -- implementing autopsy-based registries, and integrating early cardiovascular screening at the school level, are some of the measures proposed by the studies.
OCCRP had published news articles against Adani; BJP MP Sambit Patra calls Rahul 'traitor of highest order' After a hiatus of two days, the Winter Session of Parliament plunged into chaos again Thursday, this time due to the ruling BJP targeting Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, accusing them of being part of a plan to "derail" India's economy and "disrupt" its democracy. Senior BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised the matter in the Lok Sabha, alleging that a "dangerous triangle" ...Read More >
Port Blair: Namita Roy was just 26 years old when she gave birth to her son, 'Tsunami', in a snake-infested jungle where she and her family took shelter after deadly waves triggered by a massive earthquake devoured her home in Hut Bay Island in Andaman and Nicobar on this day in 2004. Twenty years later, she remembers the day with a shudder. "I don't want to recall that dark day. I was pregnant and busy with daily chores. Suddenly, I noticed an eerie silence and was shocked to witness the sea receding miles from our shore. We also noticed zugunruhe in birds," she told PTI. "Seconds later, th ...Read More >
Rameswaram, Feb 10 (PTI) The new 2.05 kilometre Pamban Bridge will allow trains to cross the sea between mainland India and Rameswaram Island in Tamil Nadu in less than 5 minutes, significantly less than the previous 25-30 minutes on the old structure, railway officials said on Monday. The bridge is ready to be dedicated to the nation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate it within the next few weeks, though a date is yet to be decided, he added. "Trains used to take 25-30 minutes to cross the old colonial-era Pamban Bridge between Mandapam and Rameswaram Islands due to ...Read More >
Guwahati, Jun 5 (PTI) The Assam Congress on Thursday demanded a CBI inquiry into alleged illegal stone mining in Karbi Anglong district in violation of a Supreme Court order. Addressing a press conference here, former Rajya Sabha member Ripun Bora also alleged that Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Chief Executive Member Tuliram Ronghang was allowing illegal activities in the district in nexus with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. "Large-scale illegal stone mining is taking place in the hills of Karbi Anglong in violation of the Supreme Court order. The SC had banned mining in and around K ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at 15 places in Mumbai and Kochi in connection with the Mithi River desilting scam that caused a wrongful loss of more than Rs 65 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), official sources said. The massive crackdown is underway at the premises across Mumbai and Kochi linked to the accused and suspects as part of an ongoing probe into alleged financial irregularities. According to the sources, the searches are being carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at locat ...Read More >
Lakhimpur Kheri, December 3: Talent knows no boundaries. A testament to this is 28-year-old Muneer Khan from Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, whose innovations and technical skills have gained him global recognition. From a 'smart water bottle' to 'smart soil testing device,' and more recently, 'AI-enabled eye-glasses,' what makes his innovations stand out is their ability to improve everyday convenience for ordinary people. Born in a humble and poor family in Kheri's Gauriya village, Muneer lost his father when he was just one year old. His four older brothers and mother worked tirelessly t ...Read More >
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The museum police have arrested three caretakers of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for allegedly injuring a two-and-a-half-year-old child. The accused -- Ajitha, Maheswari, and Sindhu were taken into custody on Tuesday under the POCSO Act and relevant sections of the BNS. The incident reportedly happened when the child was hurt in the genital area as a punishment for urinating on the bed. The injury came to light when the child was being bathed. On noticing it, CWC General ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], January 13 (ANI): Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw criticised Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and called him "factually incorrect" over his remark that most incumbent governments, including India in 2024 elections, lost post-COVID. He added that the people of India have reaffirmed their trust in the NDA led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "As the world's largest democracy, India conducted the 2024 elections with over 640 million voters. People of India reaffirmed their trust in the ND led by PM @narendramodi Ji's leadership. Mr. Zuckerberg's claim that most incumbent governments, ...Read More >
Patna: Nephrologist Dr Hemant Kumar, who served in the field of health, was nominated for the Padma Shri on the eve of Republic Day. In an interview with TOI's Sheezan Nezami, Dr Kumar talks about his journey, inspiration and his future plans. Excerpts: Congratulations on making it to the list of Padma Shri. How are you feeling and what about the celebration? My family, everyone associated with me, and I are very happy. I was awarded for my social work and my model of working, which focused on kidney diseases and primarily on its prevention. Can you share your journey in brief? What inspire ...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 >
Mumbai: On Thursday, the city added 34 new Covid-19 cases, taking the total since May to 569. There have been four Covid-19-linked deaths in the city since, and three more in MMR. All had pre-existing health conditions.In all, the state reported 98 Covid-19 cases on the same day. There were four in Thane, two in Kalyan, one in Vasai-Virar, four in Pune district, 10 in Pune city, one each in Satara, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district and Nagpur, and three in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation. Health officials said all those diagnosed on Thursday are mild cases. Since cases began t ...Read More >
Gorakhpur, Jun 6 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met with the public on Friday morning at the Janata Darshan held in Gorakhpur and assured them of effectively addressing their problems. Personally interacting with around 200 people, the chief minister heard their grievances and collected their petitions, according to an official statement. "He directed officials to respond swiftly and sensitively to public complaints, ensuring timely, fair, and satisfactory resolutions," it stated. Reaching out directly to citizens seated outside the Mahant Digvijaynath Smriti Bhavan, Adi ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) Veteran journalist and writer Humra Quraishi, who died due to heart failure and diabetic complications, was known as an advocate for truth, justice and as a champion for the marginalised. Quraishi breathed her last at a hospital in Gurugram on Thursday, her daughter Sarah Quraishi told PTI. She was 70. Also Read | Indian Army's 'Sambhav' Smart Phone Used During China Border Talks for Secure Communication. Born in Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh on April 25, 1956, Quraishi worked as a Delhi-based writer and columnist. Also Read | Saif Ali Khan Stabbing Case: 'Bring a S ...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 >
Mangaluru, (Karnataka) Feb 5 (PTI) District in-charge Minister of Dakshina Kannada, Dinesh Gundu Rao, directed officials on Wednesday to install CCTV cameras on both sides of bridges along major highways and main roads to prevent 'illegal' activities. During an inspection of the strengthening work on the Addur Bridge along the Perali-Addur State Highway, Rao highlighted reports of sand mining near bridges weakening their structures. Also Read | Delhi Assembly Elections 2025: National Capital Records 57.89% Voter Turnout; Exit Polls Give BJP Edge Over AAP. He said that although extracting sa ...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 >
Bhubaneswar, Jan 31 (PTI) The Odisha Police on Friday arrested eight NSUI activists for holding a demonstration and showing black flags to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat during his travel in Bhubaneswar the previous day. The arrested youths, who were detained by the police on Thursday evening from the spot, were in the age group of 19 years to 24 years. They were booked under several sections of the BNS. Also Read | 'Touched Private Parts Pricked With Pen': Tuiton Teacher in Nagaur, Rajasthan Sexually Abused Class 2 Girl for 6 Months, Arrested. The workers of the Congress' student wing were protes ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, May 22 (UNI) An elderly person with comorbidities who recently returned from New Delhi has tested positive for COVID-19, an official source said on Thursday. The 75-year-old patient has been admitted to a private hospital in the state capital. His family members have been instructed to remain in quarantine as a preventive measure. According to Health Department sources, the patient's blood sample will be sent to the Institute of Life Sciences for genome sequencing to determine the COVID-19 variant. Odisha Health Secretary S. Aswathy informed the media that the situation is bein ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah has made it clear on several occasions that in the delimitation exercise, concerns of the southern states will be taken care of and discussed with all concerned at appropriate time. A spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said this on Thursday, a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed concern over the Census-linked delimitation exercise. "The Honourable Home Minister has made it clear on several occasions that in the delimitation exercise, concerns of southern states will be taken care of and discussed with a ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, Jun 6: Delhi recorded 30 new COVID-19 infections taking the count of active cases to 592, according to Union Health Ministry data released on Friday. The number of fatalities since January 1 stands at seven, with no fresh deaths recorded since Thursday. Active cases across India stand at 5,364, with four deaths reported in the past 24 hours. Kerala continues to be the most affected state, followed by Gujarat, West Bengal and Delhi, ministry data shows. (PTI) ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 5 (PTI) Maharashtra on Thursday reported 98 COVID-19 cases, taking the tally in the state since January 1 this year to 1,162, the health department said. Of these cases, 48 are from Pune district, 34 from Mumbai and six from Thane, an official said. Since January 1, a total of 14,565 COVID-19 tests have been carried out, with 1,162 returning positive. A total of 597 persons have recovered during this period, while 17 have succumbed, including 16 with co-morbidities, he said. There has been no death reported from the ailment in the state since Wednesday, he added. The total num ...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 >
Ranchi: Tribal icon Birsa Munda's great-grandson Mangal Munda, who was undergoing treatment at a hospital here after being injured in a road accident, died of "cardiovascular failure" on Friday, an official of the health facility said. He was 45. Mangal Munda breathed his last at 12.30 am at the state's apex health facility - Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences. Munda sustained severe head injuries after he fell from the roof of a passenger vehicle in Jharkhand's Khunti district on November 25. "Birsa Munda's kin Mangal Munda died of cardiovascular failure around 12.30 am. He was on a v ...Read More >
The United States congressional subcommittee's final report on the Covid-19 pandemic has pointed to the "lab leak" theory, making it the latest US report pinning the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to the Wuhan lab in China. "Four years after the onset of the worst pandemic in 100 years, the weight of the evidence increasingly supports the lab leak hypothesis," the 500-plus page report said, adding that since they began their work in February 2023, more senior intelligence officials, politicians, science editors, and scientists had "endorsed the hypothesis that COVID-19 emerged as the result ...Read More >
Ayodhya, Dec 5 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday accused the Opposition parties of trying to divide society, saying what Mughal ruler Babur's army did in Ayodhya and Sambhal is what is happening in Bangladesh. The chief minister, who was in the temple town for the inauguration of the 43rd Ramayan Mela, said Lord Ram united the whole society. "Had we given importance to unity and not let the strategy of nation's enemies succeed in creating social animosity, this country would have never become a slave. Our pilgrimages would not have become impure. A handful of inv ...Read More >
Chandigarh, Jan 17 (PTI) Ten more farmers sat on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri protest site in solidarity with Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose indefinite fast in support of various demands of the farmers led to further deterioration of his health on the 53rd day. Besides Dallewal, 111 farmers from Punjab have been sitting on an indefinite fast for the past three days. Farmers, under the banner of the SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 last year, after security forces did not a ...Read More >
Ghazipur (UP), Jan 31 (PTI) Eight people died and 11 others were injured when a truck collided with a van in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur district on Friday, officials said. The accident occurred in Revasa village of Nandganj area when the victims, residents of Haldichok village in Gorakhpur, were returning from the Maha Kumbh fair in Prayagraj, District Magistrate Aryaka Akhoury said. A truck hit the van from the side, causing its passengers to be thrown onto the road, following which the truck ran over them, Akhoury said. She said that Amar Singh (45), Surendra Gupta (54), Pushpa Yadav (40), ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 6 (PTI) The RBI on Friday cut repo rate by a higher-than-expected 50 basis points to prop up growth, which has slowed to a four-year low of 6.5 per cent in FY25. Following the rate cut, the key policy rate eased to a three-year low of 5.5 per cent, providing relief to home, auto and corporate loans borrowers. This is the lowest repo rate in three years. The repo rate -- the rate at which banks borrow funds from the RBI -- had last stood at 5.40 per cent on August 5, 2022. After a detailed assessment of the evolving macroeconomic and financial development, as well as the economi ...Read More >
New Delhi: Delhi recorded 30 new COVID-19 infections taking the count of active cases to 592, according to Union Health Ministry data released on Friday. The number of fatalities since January 1 stands at seven, with no fresh deaths recorded since Thursday. Active cases across India stand at 5,364, with four deaths reported in the past 24 hours. Kerala continues to be the most affected state, followed by Gujarat, West Bengal and Delhi, ministry data shows. In view of the rising cases, the Centre is conducting mock drills to check facility-level preparedness for COVID-19. All states have be ...Read More >
VARANASI: A team of IIT (BHU) scientists, led by Project Investigator and Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sudip Mukherjee, is spearheading a ground-breaking initiative to develop a cell-based therapeutic platform aimed at the long-term cure of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), a fatal and debilitating neurological disorder. ALS has long posed a significant challenge to medical science. The disease, primarily of genetic origin, impacts movement, cognition, behaviour, and the overall health of individuals. In severe cases, ALS leads to respiratory failure and ...Read More >