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.
Gurugram (Haryana) [India], July 18 (ANI): In a groundbreaking achievement for global medical care, Paras Health Gurugram, has successfully performed the world's first Living Donor Liver Transplant combined with a double heart valve surgery. This complex transplant was performed on a 55-year-old woman from Kyrgyzstan, who had been battling end-stage autoimmune liver disease along with severe valvular heart disease, said the hospital in a press release. The patient, Anara M, after multiple hospitalizations over several years, arrived at Paras Health Gurugram on February 25, 2025, seeking advanced care for her rapidly deteriorating health. The comprehensive pre-transplant evaluation revealed that she not only needs a liver transplant but also a repair of both her mitral and tricuspid heart valves, making it a uniquely complex and high-risk case. The landmark procedure was made possible by an integrated team of specialists, including Dr. Vaibhaw Kumar, Director - Institute of Liver Transplant & GI Surgery, Dr Amit Rastogi - Chairman, Institute of Liver Transplant & GI Surgery and Dr Sanjay Kumar, Vice Chairman, Cardiac Surgery. Special contribution by Dr Rajnish Monga, Chairman, Gastroenterology & Hepatology and Dr. Amit Bhushan Sharma, Director & Unit Head in Cardiology, was also made to make the surgery successful. Dr Vaibhaw Kumar, Director, Institute of Liver Transplant and GI Surgery at Paras Health Gurugram, said, 'It is the first time anyone has combined a living donor liver transplant with simultaneous mitral and tricuspid valve repair. Our team carried out the liver transplant with great precision and deep knowledge of anatomy, along with well-coordinated care during and after the surgery.' 'By doing double valve repair at the same time, we increased the risk and complexity significantly. Completing both procedures in one session demonstrates our surgical skill and the strength of our collaborative approach. We have set a new standard for what can be done in modern transplant and cardiac surgery,' he added. Dr Sanjay Kumar, Vice Chairman, Cardiac Surgery at Paras Health Gurugram, said, 'This was a very high-risk and rare case. Performing cardiac surgery and a liver transplant in a single session greatly increases the surgical complexity. The patient had severe dysfunction of both the mitral and tricuspid valves.' 'This meant that unless her heart was stabilized first, the liver transplant would not have been possible. Successfully replacing Mitral Valve and repairing the tricuspid valve allowed the transplant team to move forward with confidence. This achievement shows the strong teamwork between the cardiac and liver teams, the hospital's infrastructure, and our dedication to providing patients a second chance at life,' he added. The groundbreaking surgery took place on March 26, 2025. The 4-hour cardiac procedure was performed first to repair the damaged heart valves. After the heart valve surgery, the patient was briefly awakened in the operation theatre to check her heart function before proceeding with the liver transplant, as her heart needed to be stable for the next stage. It was followed immediately by a 12 hour living donor liver transplant, bringing the total surgical time to 16 hours. The multidisciplinary team included 18-20 specialists, such as surgeons, anesthetists, technicians, and critical care nurses, said the hospital. The patient's 23-year-old nephew donated the liver and was discharged from the hospital on the fifth day after surgery and went back to Kyrgyzstan within three weeks. He made a full recovery and returned to work, highlighting the safety of living donor procedures when done under expert supervision. Post-surgery, Anara was closely monitored and remained in the ICU for 8 days, followed by a 7-day stay in a hospital room. She was discharged on Day 15 and returned to her native country after six weeks. Now, three months later, she has resumed a completely normal and healthy lifestyle. This medical milestone was made possible by Paras Health's modern facilities. These include hybrid operating rooms, AI-supported surgical planning tools, real-time 3D imaging, and a dedicated transplant ICU, said the hospital. This innovative surgery highlights India's increasing role in advanced healthcare innovation. The hospital aims to publish this case in a top international medical journal to help centers that manage similar multi-organ transplant cases around the world. (ANI)
Jaipur: The 23-year-old patient who received the heart, kidney and lungs of a brain-dead patient -- that were airlifted in the first such instance of organ transport in Rajasthan -- died on Tuesday late night at the SMS Hospital here. The hospital's senior doctor and spokesperson Dr Manish Agarwal said the complicated surgery was successful. Doctors tried hard to save the woman, but could not succeed, after which the patient died. The organs were airlifted for the first time in Rajasthan. The heart, kidney and lungs of Vishnu Prasad, a brain-dead youth in Jhalawar, were transported to Jaipur ...Read More >
New Delhi: Actress and reality TV star Sana Makbul, winner of Bigg Boss OTT 3, has been hospitalised due to a serious health issue, according to a statement by her close friend Aashna Kanchwala on social media. While the exact nature of her condition has not been disclosed, Kanchwala described it as a "grave condition" in an Instagram Story. Sharing her support, Aashna wrote: "My strongest Diva, I'm so proud of you for showing so much strength and resilience as you battle such a grave condition. Inshallah, you will fight this and come out even stronger... Allah is with you. And I am always s ...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 >
CHENNAI: Two hospitals in Coimbatore collaboratively performed the country's first inter-hospital swap liver transplant on two patients suffering from end-stage liver disease. The complex procedure was executed between GEM Hospital and Sri Ramakrishna Hospital in Coimbatore. The patients, a 59-year-old man from Salem admitted in GEM and a 53-year-old man from Tirupur in Sri Ramakrishna, were both in need of liver transplants. Their wives were willing to donate, but blood group incompatibility ruled out direct donation. In a rare stroke of opportunity, doctors identified that a 'swap transpla ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 20 (ANI): Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury on Sunday expressed concern over the government inaction in bringing to justice the terrorists behind the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians, including a Nepali citizen. As the Parliament Monsoon session begins, Chowdhury stated that the INDIA bloc will raise this issue, demanding answers from the government. Speaking to ANI, Chowdhury said, The Parliament session is starting, so we have reached Delhi. We have not been able to see those who killed our countrymen in the terrorist attack in Pahalgam arrested yet. T ...Read More >
Heart transplant patients in the United States typically spend months waiting for a donated organ. But Kayoko Hira was not a typical patient. Mrs. Hira, the wife of a hotel magnate in Japan, flew to the United States in September 2021, went to the University of Chicago Medical Center and, within days, got a new heart from an American teenager who had died. Soon after, The New York Times found, a charity run by her husband made a donation to a nonprofit group led by the heart surgeon's wife. It ...Read More >
TURA, July 1: In a first-of-its-kind surgery at Baghmara Civil Hospital, a 25-year-old woman underwent an emergency lower segment caesarean section (LSCS) on Tuesday due to foetal distress, resulting in the successful delivery of a baby girl weighing 2.6 kg. Both the mother and the baby are in stable condition, sources confirmed. This marks the first surgery of its kind at Baghmara Civil Hospital following the completion of the new operation theatre. The LSCS was conducted by Dr Susan Sangma and Dr Presiana Shira, both trained in Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care (CEmOC), with assistan ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Two liver failure patients in Coimbatore -- a 59-year-old in GEM Hospital and a 53-year-old in Sri Ramakrishna Hospital -- were desperate when doctors told them a transplant would be complicated as their wives' organs were incompatible. However, their doctors found a possibility for a swap transplant, which allows patients to exchange donors with another family in a similar situation.Both hospitals performed the surgeries simultaneously in two different operation theatres located 5 km ap ...Read More >
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government is planning to increase the budget for organ transplants under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar announced on Wednesday, pledging wider financial support for patients in need. The commitment came during a moving ceremony at Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children to mark World Organ Donation Day, where donor families were honoured for their life-saving contributions. Wadia Hospital Secures Pediatric Heart Transplant License The event, filled with emotion and gratitude, featured a soulful prayer dance by Riddhi-Sidd ...Read More >
A study published in the journal Music and Medicine demonstrates that intraoperative music therapy significantly reduces the amount of propofol and fentanyl required during laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed under general anesthesia. Patients exposed to therapeutic music also experienced smoother awakenings and lower physiological stress, as measured by decreased perioperative cortisol levels. "These findings show that this is more than just simple background music, rather an integration of ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: A student of Fakir Mohan College in Balasore, who set herself on fire on the campus over alleged sexual harassment on Saturday, has been put on ventilator support at AIIMS Bhubaneswar after she sustained 95 per cent burn injuries. A 12-member team of doctors is closely monitoring her health condition. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi along with his deputy Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo visited AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Sunday to inquire about her condition. Majhi interacted with doctors and spoke to her family. Former CM and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has appealed the Governor to ...Read More >
CHENNAI: GEM Hospital and Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, located five-kilometre apart in Coimbatore, have pulled off simultaneous liver transplants for two men in their fifties, involving an inter-hospital swap of organs from donors, who were each other's wives. Addressing the media here on Friday, the hospitals claimed that this was the first time in India that such liver transplants involving inter-hospital swap were done. The patients, aged 59 from Salem and 53 from Tiruppur respectively admitted in GEM and Ramakrishna hospitals, were in dire need of liver transplants. Although their respective ...Read More >
Medak: Telangana State BJP President N. Ramchander Rao on Friday appealed to the people to give the committed party an opportunity to meet the aspirations of the poor and downtrodden. Addressing a large gathering of party workers in Medak, the BJP chief remarked that citizens have experienced the rule of the BRS and the Congress party and have had bitter experiences with the deceitful practices of both. He urged people to support the BJP wholeheartedly in the upcoming local body elections as a way to teach the ruling Congress party a lesson for its unfulfilled promises. Rao emphasized that t ...Read More >
Raichur (Karnataka) [India], August 14: In a landmark moment for global hepatology and Indian pharmaceutical innovation, Shilpa Medicare Limited (BSE: 530661) (NSE: SHILPAMED) has secured the world first regulatory approval from India Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for Nor Ursodeoxycholic Acid (NorUDCA) Tablets 500 mg, the first-ever approved therapy targeting NAFLD. * Shilpa Medicare emerges as the global pioneer to receive approval for NorUDCA, offering new hope to over a billion people affected by Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) * NAFLD affects 1 in 4 people ...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 >
New Delhi: Protest at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) against a recently announced fee hike, the long-standing suspension of students' union elections and calls for administrative accountability have entered their sixth day, with students boycotting classes and staging sit-ins at the Bab-e-Syed gate (the iconic entrance of the varsity). The fee structure for different courses has witnessed a sharp revision. Students say the hike ranges from 25% to over 60% across various programmes. Many claim they first learned of the revised fees only while trying to pay through the university's online ...Read More >
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 3: Echosens, the leader in non-invasive liver diagnostics, today announced the opening of its new regional headquarters* in Mumbai, India. The new office in the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) will serve as the company's hub for operations across South Asia, expanding access to FibroScan® in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, The Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Also Read | 'Pakistan's Been Testing': US President Donald Trump Says Pakistan 'Testing' Nuclear Weapons, Defends US' Decision To Resume Testing (Watch Video). Echosens has been present in India for more than ...Read More >
Gurgaon: Two days after a law student died and his friend suffered critical injuries when a car knocked them down as they stood near railing on the service lane of Delhi-Jaipur highway in the early hours of Tuesday, a civil engineer was arrested on Thursday.Mohit (31), an employee of a private company in the city, told police that he got drowsy while driving. He is staying at a PG facility in Sector 14.The student who died, Harsh Singhal (25), was a resident of Om Nagar colony. His friend Abhishek Kumar (23), who is from Shanti Nagar in Sector 11, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital ...Read More >
New Delhi: Traffic in central Delhi will be affected on Thursday as the traffic police has issued an advisory due to the Janmashtami and Tazia processions.According to police, the traffic movement in Paharganj is likely to be affected from 1.30pm in view of the shobha yatra for Janmashtami and the Tazia procession.The Janmashtami procession will start from Mandir Shri Banke Bihari Ji in Paharganj's Sangatrasan Bazar and pass through Desh Bandhu Gupta Road, Chuna Mandi, Main Bazar, Munja Chowk and Arakashan Road. The Tazia procession will start from Ajmeri Gate and proceed through Pul Paharganj ...Read More >
KOCHI: Biljith Biju and Isaac George, two youngsters who were declared brain dead last week, have, through organ donation, served a purpose beyond saving lives -- raising awareness of the importance of their life-affirming acts of eternal kindness. And, this has reflected in the number of organ-donation pledges made in the state on Friday and Saturday. On September 13, 191 people pledged to donate organs after their death. The number was 193 on September 12. "Factors like acceptance and the honour donors and their families receive, and the improved quality of life of recipients have motivate ...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 >
Bengaluru: A 38-year-old woman from Kolar district in Karnataka has been identified with a previously unknown blood group, now officially recognised and named CRIB by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). CRIB stands for Cromer India Bengaluru. "Cromer" refers to the blood group system under which the antigen has been classified. "India" indicates the country of discovery and "Bengaluru" marks the city where the blood sample was studied. The discovery was made during routine testing before the woman was scheduled for cardiac surgery. Doctors at RL Jalappa Hospital in Kolar f ...Read More >
Vijayawada: The NSS Unit of Siddhartha Academy of Higher Education (Deemed to be University), here organised an organ donation awareness programme in collaboration with Manipal Hospital and Red FM on the occasion of Organ Donation Day on Wednesday. The programme was aimed to sensitise students, faculty, and staff about the vital role of organ donation in saving lives. Registrar Dr M Ravichand appreciated the noble cause of organ donation, noting that by pledging their organs, individuals can offer hope and grant a new lease of life to those in need. Dean of Admissions Dr GSN Swami highlighte ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: In a major medical breakthrough, a city hospital has successfully performed the living donor liver transplant in combination with double heart valve surgery. The rare and high-risk procedure was conducted on a 55-year-old woman from Kyrgyzstan suffering from end-stage autoimmune liver disease and severe dysfunction in both the mitral and tricuspid heart valves. The patient, Anara M, sought treatment at Paras Health, Gurugram, on February 25, after years of hospitalisation. The pre-su ...Read More >
Saveetha Medical College & Hospital collaborates with Apollo Hospitals to offer affordable liver transplants in India. This alliance brings world-class care at reduced costs, making life-saving surgeries accessible to all. The partnership combines Apollo's medical expertise with Saveetha's social mission, transforming healthcare accessibility nationwide. In a landmark agreement poised to transform the landscape of affordable tertiary healthcare in India, Saveetha Medical College & Hospital has p ...Read More >
VMPL Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 17: Cytecare Hospitals, a leading cancer and multi-speciality hospital known for its patient-centric and evidence-based care, has received the official license to perform kidney transplants. This milestone marks a significant step in strengthening the hospital's comprehensive organ care program and providing life-saving treatment options to patients with end-stage kidney disease. With this development, patients can now benefit from a multidisciplinary transplant team comprising experienced nephrologists, urologists, transplant surgeons, anesthesiol ...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 >
Dimapur, Jul 18 (PTI) Two persons have died of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Nagaland, a health department official said on Friday. Chief Medical Officer, Dimapur, Dr Yartenla Jamir, said that of the seven JE cases detected in Dimapur, Chumoukedima, and Niuland districts, two persons have died so far. She expressed concern over the rise in Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases in the three districts, especially during the monsoon season, which increases the risk of transmission. The Health department has urged district administrations to issue a public advisory on JE prevention measures and to i ...Read More >
Raichur (Karnataka) [India], August 14: In a landmark moment for global hepatology and Indian pharmaceutical innovation, Shilpa Medicare Limited (BSE: 530661) (NSE: SHILPAMED) has secured the world's first regulatory approval from India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for Nor Ursodeoxycholic Acid (NorUDCA) Tablets 500 mg, the first-ever approved therapy targeting NAFLD. Also Read | 'Coolie' X Review: Rajinikanth's 'One-Man Show' With Nagarjuna's Stylish Act and Anirudh Ravichander's BGM Redeems Lokesh Kanagaraj's Massy Thriller, Say Netizens. * Shilpa Medicare emerges a ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The tech capital witnessed a medical marathon like no other when doctors from four hospitals, aided by the city's traffic police, pulled off three heart transplants in under 12 hours. The mission: Saving three patients in their 30s, who were running out of time as their lung pressure edged towards the point of no return.All three donor hearts -- which were retrieved from Sparsh Hospital in Yelahanka, Aster CMI Hospital in Hebbal and Manipal Hospital on Old Airport Road -- were raced through the city on green corridors organised by Bengaluru traffic police. The hearts were to reach N ...Read More >