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.
Mumbai: Hospitals reported a significant surge in vector-borne diseases over the past month compared to June. Across the city, malaria cases topped, while dengue and chikungunya surged alarmingly compared to last month. Private hospitals, too, are seeing a rise in leptospirosis cases.In July, compared to June, malaria cases jumped from 884 to 1,294 (46.38% increase), dengue from 105 to 708 (over 500% increase), chikungunya from 21 to 129 (over 500% increase), leptospirosis from 36 to 143, and hepatitis from 78 to 176. In the same month last year, city had reported 797 cases of malaria, 535 of dengue, and only 25 of chikungunya."Chikungunya was not an issue in Mumbai until some years ago. Most senior doctors saw chikungunya as a rarity, largely in patients coming from outside. Now, however, it is a common occurrence," said Dr Anita Mathew, Internal Medicine Specialist at Fortis Hospital.She added that OPDs are flooded with dengue patients, but most are rushing to the hospital out of fear rather than serious illness. "Dengue can be managed at home if there is adequate fluid intake unless patients have specific serious symptoms. Lepto patients used to be less at private hospitals before, but they have surged now," said Dr Mathew.While she is witnessing younger patients with vector-borne diseases turn serious, Dr Anupama Sardana, Critical Care Expert at Holy Family Hospital in Bandra, said older patients are the ones landing on ventilators at their hospital. "Malaria is still topping the chart, but dengue increased a lot over the last month with a dramatic fall in platelets," the doctor said.A doctor from Nair Hospital said the admissions surged for both dengue and malaria. "There have been serious cases for both, but no mortality so far," said the doctor.Dr Gautam Bhansali, a consultant physician and infectious disease specialist at Bombay Hospital, said, "There has been a surge in patients, but quick response and tests on part of the general public also increased. Most are treated on an OPD basis."BMC officials said the early onset of rain from May this year created a favourable environment for vector- and water-borne diseases.
Belagavi: With monsoon rainfall intensifying, the health department in Belagavi district has ramped up preventive efforts to control the spread of dengue, particularly in the critical month of July, when water saturation increases the risk of mosquito breeding.While the number of dengue cases remained under control in June, health officials are on alert for a potential surge. According to district health officer (DHO) Dr SS Gadad, the department identified around 1,300 suspected cases of dengue-related symptoms in June. Of these, 620 samples were collected for testing, with only 21 confirmed p ...Read More >
Navi Mumbai: In a major public health initiative, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has intensified its efforts to curb mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue by organizing a series of public awareness and prevention camps. A total of 286 camps were conducted across the NMMC jurisdiction, drawing the participation of 1,12,887 citizens, with 6,666 blood samples collected for testing. On July 10, the latest round of camps saw 11,312 residents attend, where they were given practical demonstrations of mosquito larvae and shown how breeding typically occurs in stagnant clea ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 15 (PTI) Mumbai has recorded an increase in malaria and chikungunya cases between January and July 2025 (till July 14) as compared to the same period of the previous year, the city civic body said on Tuesday. However, a decline was noticed in cases of leptospirosis and other water-borne diseases, including gastroenteritis and hepatitis, during the period under review, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in its report - Monsoon-Related Diseases. "The early onset of monsoon (in May) this year created a favourable environment for vector-borne diseases, leading to an ob ...Read More >
Jamshedpur: With five dengue cases detected on Thursday, the East Singhbhum district administration has gone on alert mode. On Friday, it issued detailed advisory asking residents to follow dos and donts. The district civil surgeon Dr Sahir Pall said that all the five cases reported are from the urban circle and measures have been taken to control the spread of the disease. Four cases have been reported from Chhota Govindpur and one case has been reported from Birsanagar. All five infected persons are undergoing treatment at two different private hospitals in the city and are under the observa ...Read More >
Udupi: In a bid to reduce the number of dengue and malaria cases, the Udupi district administration has decided to carry out prevention activities across the district in June and July. Deputy commissioner Vidya Kumari said awareness should be created among people on measures to prevent dengue and malaria in the district. Further, the district also needs to implement preventive measures effectively to make Karnataka free from malaria in 2025.The district carried out drives as part of World Malaria Day to prevent the spread of the disease with the slogan 'Malaria ends with us: reinvest, reimagin ...Read More >
New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi's public health department has launched an intensive drive to check mosquito breeding at historical sites and tourist places in the city. At least 55 such places were checked in the past few days and mosquito breeding was found at 16 sites, which were destroyed on the spot, MCD stated. The department claimed to have visited Humayun's Tomb, Delhi zoo, Qutub Minar complex, Lotus Pond, Sunder Nagar Nursery, etc. While 16 violators were served notices, prosecution was launched against six of them, MCD stated. Such places have vast green areas, which increa ...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 >
Kolkata : To commemorate Indian Organ Donation Day -- observed annually on August 3rd to mark the anniversary of India's first successful deceased donor heart transplant -- Manipal Hospital, EM Bypass, organized a Patient Education Programme aimed at spreading awareness about the importance of organ donation and transplantation. The session was graced by (Prof.) Dr. Dilip Kumar Pahari, Senior Consultant and Head of Nephrology, Manipal Hospital, EM Bypass and (Prof.) Dr. Arpita Ray Chowdhury (Lahiri), Senior Consultant - Nephrology and Transplant President of the Indian Society of Organ Transpl ...Read More >
Gurgaon: The state health department has recorded 62 confirmed cases of dengue till June end. However, Gurgaon hasn't recorded any cases so far even as dengue hotspots have been mapped out. Rewari has emerged as the most affected district with 14 cases, followed by Karnal with eight, Panchkula with seven and Kaithal and Faridabad with four each. While the state numbers are lower than in previous years, authorities remain vigilant to prevent a post-monsoon surge. Thirty-one cases of malaria and 10 cases of chikungunya were also recorded during the same period.In Gurgaon, the health department h ...Read More >
Patna: While the monsoon brings respite from the heat, the threat of vector-borne diseases also increases during this time of the year.According to official data, so far 62 dengue cases have been registered in Patna district, along with seven chikungunya. Health experts have warned people to remain cautious as the peak season is just ahead.Officials said of the total 62 dengue cases, the majority were from the capital. When asked about the steps being taken by the department as cases are expected to increase with each passing day, Patna civil surgeon Dr Avinash Kumar Singh said they were on al ...Read More >
Hyderabad, July 7 (Maxim News): In light of the increasing risk of dengue and seasonal diseases, the Telangana Health Department has urged citizens across the state to observe 'Friday Dry Day' -- a weekly initiative to eliminate stagnant water in and around homes, offices, and public spaces. With the arrival of monsoon, conditions are now ideal for the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes, the primary vector of dengue. The health authorities have called on the public to proactively prevent mosquito breeding by ensuring there is no water accumulation in containers, flower pots, air coolers, or any ope ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 20 (ANI): The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), through its Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar (RMRCBB) and National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology-National Institute of Immunology (DBT-NII), is currently developing a novel recombinant chimeric malaria vaccine candidate, named AdFalciVax. AdFalciVax is the first indigenous recombinant chimeric malaria vaccine specifically designed to target two critical stages of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the most lethal form of mal ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], March 30 (ANI): The Delhi High Court has ordered that the medical treatment of Popular Front of India (PFI) Chairman E Abubacker shall continue at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) itself, while directing that he be taken to Apollo Hospital for a second medical opinion. Abubacker has sought medical treatment for cancer and Parkinson's in a private hospital of his choice. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma disposed of Abubacker's petition seeking transfer to a private hospital of his choice, saying that even though he is an accused, he is suffering from multiple ...Read More >
Pune: Hospitals in Pune have started reporting an increase in dengue cases among children following recent heavy rainfall and intermittent showers. Conditions are now ripe for mosquito breeding, experts said, as they warned citizens to ensure there's no waterlogging or stagnant pools near homes and offices. "Dengue is typically seen first in children as they often play outside," said Dr Sagar Lad, a senior neonatologist and pediatric intensivist at Jehangir Hospital and Sahyadri Hospital, Shastrinagar. Dr Lad said he's seen at least three children admitted for dengue this week, with all of the ...Read More >
Kurukshetra: Haryana health minister Arti Singh Rao on Friday said there would be no shortage of medics in the state-run hospitals and the govt would soon recruit 500 doctors for these facilities.The proposal for recruitment has already been prepared, and the hiring process will begin soon, the minister said while interacting with the mediaperson after conducting a surprise inspection of the LNJP Civil Hospital here.Earlier, Arti Singh checked the pharmacy, toilets, and cleanliness arrangements i ...Read More >
PTC Web Desk: Ludhiana district continues to witness a steady rise in dengue cases, with the total count reaching 361. As per the latest report issued by the office of the Civil Surgeon, Ludhiana, 15 new cases were recorded on Thursday. Currently, 35 cases remain active, while no dengue-related deaths have been reported so far. On the other hand, only one case of chikungunya has been reported in the district, with no new infections detected in the latest update. The health authorities have identified 29 dengue hotspot areas in Ludhiana. These are Gurdev Nagar, Model Town, SBS Nagar, Phase 2 ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Thousands of people who gathered at ashoorkhana in Dabeerpura on the 10th day of Muharram (Youm-e-Ashura) took part in the Bibi-ka-Alam procession. The procession commenced from Dabeerpura on an elephant and concluded at Chaderghat. The Shia mourners took out the procession to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Prophet Mohammad's grandson, Imam Hussain, on the 10th day of Muharram. Members of the Shia sect performed matam and participated in processions. The 10th Muharram is the day on which Imam Hussain was martyred in the battle of Karbala by Yazid and his army. The relic made of ...Read More >
New Delhi: Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday urged states to reassess their preparedness to fight dengue, particularly in light of the prolonged rainy season and waterlogging in certain areas. Nadda had held a similar meeting over dengue and malaria in the national capital last week. States have also been advised to intensify vector control, strengthen surveillance and rapid response in Delhi and NCR. During 2024, a total of 2,33,519 dengue cases and 297 deaths were reported from the country. In 2025 (till August 31) 49,573 cases and 42 deaths have been reported. Nadda chaired a high- ...Read More >
TOKYO -- The sweltering summer is finally over in Japan, though it's still a bit early to fully enjoy the cool evening breeze. In the meantime, experts warn that this time of year is actually peak mosquito season. Many people are complaining about mosquito bites through social media posts, with comments like, "It's time to break out the mosquito coils" and, "Autumn mosquitoes are vicious." The Mainichi Shimbun asked an expert why mosquitoes become more aggressive in the fall and what individuals ...Read More >
Hyderabad: In an unusual protest, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) LB Nagar MLA Devirreddy Sudheer Reddy held a press meet at the media hall in the Assembly premises, wearing an outfit made of mosquito net material. Speaking to the media, the MLA said, "The situation in Hyderabad has worsened so much that 'the moment you open your mouth in Hyderabad, mosquitoes are flying into it. The public is being forced to take extreme steps. It seems like people will have to 'stitch mosquito nets for themselves ...Read More >
Chandigarh: The Haryana State Blood Transfusion Council (HSBTC) on Wednesday gave significant approvals to expand and modernise blood transfusion services across the state. During the meeting chaired by ACS health and family welfare Sumita Misra, the council approved a comprehensive Annual Action Plan for 2026-27 with a total proposed outlay of Rs 11.60 crore under the National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) component.It earmarked budget for procurement of blood bags and testing kits, ensuring a steady and uninterrupted supply chain across all blood centres, and allocation for mobile blood c ...Read More >
Thursday, 10 July 2025 () Following a dengue-related death in Kalyan, the KDMC has launched a widespread prevention campaign involving hospitals, NGOs, and students. Measures include inspections, awareness drives, and fumigation at construction sites and societies. Mumbai has also reported a rise in dengue and malaria cases in June 2025, BMC data shows. ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 19 (PTI) The Regional Medical Research Centre in Bhubaneswar, under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has developed an advanced malaria vaccine that can prevent plasmodium falciparum infection in individuals and minimise community transmission. The ICMR Delhi has invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from eligible organisations, companies and manufacturers enthusiastic about the Transfer of Technology for commercial production of "a recombinant chimeric multi-stage malaria vaccine (AdFalciVax) against plasmodium falciparum". The pre-clinical validation of this te ...Read More >
New Delhi, Aug 1 (PTI) Trades worth nearly Rs 3.21 lakh crore have been conducted through the electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform during the last five financial years, the government said on Friday. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur said, "From 1st April, 2020 to 31st March, 2025, trade worth Rs 3,20,766 crore has been conducted through electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)". The minister was replying to a question by Congress member Randeep Singh Surjewala. "The inter-state trade volume on the e-NAM platform ...Read More >
Kurnool: The Kurnool and Nandyal districts are experiencing a surge in dengue cases. More than 350 cases have been reported, accounting for nearly 20 per cent of the state's total. The actual number could be higher, as cases in private hospitals are not included in the official figures. Dengue is wreaking havoc in the joint Kurnool district, causing alarm among people and health officials. So far this year, 1,700 dengue cases have been reported in the state, with 350 cases from the joint district alone, including 240 in Kurnool. Official sources confirm that two people have died in Kurnool ...Read More >
He was brought to Jaipur in an air ambulance and taken to the SMS Hospital under the supervision of medical and district administration teams A 22-year-old MBBS student from Rajasthan, who was battling for life in Kazakhstan after suffering a brain stroke, was airlifted to Jaipur on Monday evening. Rahul Ghosalya, a resident of Jaipur's Shahpura and a medical student in Astana since 2021, suffered a brain stroke on October 8 and had been on ventilator support in a hospital there. He was brough ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Residents across the newly-formed Tambaram Municipal Corporation are facing an unprecedented surge in mosquito infestations, leading to sleepless nights and a rising fear of vector-borne diseases like dengue. The problem, described as the worst in recent memory, is rampant throughout the corporation, with Zone 4 (Wards 55 to 61) and areas like Chrompet, Pallavaram, Sembaikuppam, Pammal, Anagaputhur, Thiruneermalai, Perungulathur, and Peerkankaranai being particularly affected. The primary cause for the mosquito boom is identified as widespread public negligence and alleged civic ina ...Read More >
Mumbai: Three children aged 12 to 16 died of disseminated tuberculosis (TB) at one of the major public hospitals in the city over the last month not due to lack of treatment but because private general practitioners failed to diagnose the disease early.Disseminated TB refers to the spread of the disease from the lungs to other organs. Sometimes, even chest physicians miss its signs in paediatric patients. For instance, a 15-year-old girl was sent to the hospital as a drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) patient without further evaluation. "All we were told was that she had a headache. As soon as she arri ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: The battle against mosquitoes on Thursday was taken up a notch by BRS LB Nagar MLA Devireddy Sudheer Reddy, who demanded that the government and the GHMC wake up to the problem and take steps to control the burgeoning numbers of mosquitoes in the city. Sudheer Reddy, armed with a mosquito fogging machine and wearing a specially stitched suit made of mosquito netting, addressed a press conference at the BRS Legislature Party office in the Assembly complex here, and said: "The problem is so severe that you can't even open your mouth because mosquitoes will buzz their way into you." ...Read More >
GCPL introduces 'Machar Hai, Mehman Nahi', a film urging Indian households to view mosquitoes not as harmless visitors but as health threats. The campaign highlights how neglected habits contribute to mosquito breeding, urging preventive measures and cultural change to combat diseases like Dengue and Malaria. Mosquito-borne diseases continue to be a significant public health challenge in India. Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) has undertaken a unique initiative titled 'Machar Hai, Mehman ...Read More >