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.

Jammu, Aug 20 (PTI) A free vaccination drive to prevent cancer of the uterine cervix among the girls of Jammu and Kashmir was launched here on Wednesday, an official said. Health Minister Sakeena Itoo inaugurated the first-of-its-kind initiative, reaffirming the government's commitment to saving lives and building a healthy future for women across the region. She emphasised the importance of raising awareness about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and called for a sustained campaign to disseminate information about its safety and efficacy throughout Jammu and Kashmir. The minister urged the departments of social welfare and school education to collaborate with the department of health and medical education to take the cause forward. Principal of Government Medical College, Jammu, Ashutosh Gupta, said the cancer of the cervix is the second most common cancer among women in the region, with the primary risk factor being persistent infection with the HPV. "This cancer is largely preventable through timely immunisation with the HPV vaccine," he said. Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Bhavna Langer highlighted that the HPV vaccine will be provided free of cost to girls aged 9-15 years at the State Cancer Institute in Jammu, as well as through outreach sessions in schools, Anganwadi centres, and urban slums to make Jammu and Kashmir cervical cancer-free by 2030. PTI TAS RHL
The Cure SMA Foundation of India has praised the government’s recent efforts to address rare diseases, including Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), with over Rs 900 crore allocated for treatment procurement. The foundation urges swift action to implement the procurement process within 45 days, following the Delhi High Court’s directive. SMA, a life-threatening genetic disease, has limited treatment access in India. While the drug Risdiplam has brought hope, collaborative efforts are needed to ensure wider availability. Experts stress the importance of a holistic approach to SMA care, citing Kerala ...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 >
Srinagar: The Centre on Tuesday announced new reservation and domicile policies for Ladakh, reserving 85% jobs for locals and one-third of the total number of seats in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils for women. Both Kargil Democratic Alliance (KBL) and Apex Body Leh (ABL), which are fighting for implementation of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution in the Union Territory (UT), statehood, a separate public service commission and two Lok Sabha seats for Ladakh, welcomed the noti ...Read More >
Nagpur: Forced or allured conversion is violence, and bringing tribal brethren back to their original fold is correction, said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat during the valedictory function of RSS' Karyakarta Vikas Varg-II at Hedgewar Smruti Mandir premises in Reshimbagh on Thursday.Bhagwat was responding to concerns raised by the chief guest, former Congressman and minister in Indira Gandhi's govt, Arvind Netam, who warned the gathering of swayamsevaks that widespread conversions threaten the identity and existence of India's tribal communities. "If this contin ...Read More >

Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], May 22 (ANI): Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the current TDP-led government in the State, accusing Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of failing to deliver on pre-election promises and engaging in financial mismanagement. The former chief minister also took aim at what he called the "yellow media" for biased reporting in favour of the ruling party. "I am not only fighting against Chandrababu Naidu but also against the 'yellow media'," Reddy said in a press conference. ...Read More >

Katra/Jammu, Jun 5 (PTI) Union minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ensuring a speedy completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project after taking office in 2014 and said it marks the beginning of a historic journey in setting up the world's highest railway bridge in Jammu and Kashmir. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the world's highest railway bridge over the Chenab river and the Anji Khad bridge, India's first cable-stayed bridge, before flagging off Vande Bharat trains to mark the completio ...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 >

Srinagar, Jun 6 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP on Friday described the completion of the Udhampur-Baramulla rail link as a "historic moment", and called the project a "precious Eid gift" for the people of the Union Territory. "The Udhampur-Baramulla railway connectivity is not just a feat of engineering, but a symbol of hope, development, and national integration.This is truly a historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir," BJP's J-K spokesperson Altaf Thakur said here. He said the ambitious rail project will revolutionise travel in the region, boost tourism, and open up economic opportun ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry in collaboration with key stakeholders is all set to launch a 100-day TB elimination campaign focussing on enhancing detection, reducing diagnostic delays and improving treatment outcomes. The initiative, set to be implemented across 347 districts in 33 states and Union Territories, aims to strengthen programmatic activities and reduce disparities in TB outcomes across diverse regions of the country to achieve the aim of TB elimination, a health ministry statement said. The campaign envisages improving programme performance on key output indicators like T ...Read More >
New Delhi, December 15: The 'One Nation, One Election' Bill, officially known as the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, will not be tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The Revised Business List of the Lower House for the day does not mention the Bill. The first list had scheduled the Bill for Monday. It mentioned, "... Arjun Ram Meghwal to move for leave to introduce a Bill further to amend the Constitution of India. Also to introduce the Bill." One Nation, One Election: Union Cabinet Approves Bills for Simultaneous Lok Sabha, State Assembly Elections, Say Source ...Read More >
Rajouri: State Health Department teams are continuing door-to-door surveillance in Badhal village as the mystery illness in Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir continues to claim lives. This after an 'unidentified' disease has claimed 16 reported fatalities and 38 affected individuals According to reports, NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control), ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) teams have been deployed for investigation as 16 deaths have been reported in Budhal village since December 2024 due to a 'mysterious illness.' Dilmir Choudhary, ADC Kotranka said, "Since December, we h ...Read More >

KATRA, Jun 5: Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha inspected arrangements in Katra on Thursday ahead of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's scheduled Public Meeting on 06th June. The Lieutenant Governor reviewed the preparations to ensure the smooth conduct of the event and directed the officials for strict security, safety measures and seamless coordination among all departments. Hon'ble Prime Minister will dedicate the iconic Chenab Bridge, the tallest railway bridge in the world, Country's first cable-stayed Anji rail bridge and Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project ...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: Railway stations across the Kashmir Valley have been beautifully decked out as preparations peak for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to flag off the inaugural Delhi-Srinagar Vande Bharat Express -- the first-ever train connecting the valley directly to the rest of India. This landmark train will depart from Delhi and travel through Katra, the gateway to the revered Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, before reaching Srinagar. The event marks the successful culmination of one of India's most ambitious infrastructure projects, featuring two engineering marvels: the world's highest railway bridge o ...Read More >

New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
Hyderabad: Class 10 student, Samudra Laxmi Bhavani Keerthi, who was bitten by rats 15 times, at the state-run BC Welfare Hostel, in Danavaigudem, Khammam, has been partially paralysed in an arm and a leg after an alleged overdose of rabies vaccine. Keerthi was administered the vaccine every time she was bitten by a rat during March and November. Keerthi's mother, Samudra Bindu said that when the girl was first bitten in February she was taken to the hospital and given the vaccine, without her knowledge. Last week the hostel informed Bindu that Keerthi was unable to walk and had to be carried ...Read More >
Ahmedabad: More than half of the total Covid-positive cases in Gujarat -- over 700 identified so far -- were recorded in the 25 to 50 years age group, or the 'working age group', state health department officials have said. About 10% of the cases were among infants under one year of age, according to govt data. Officials also said that the number of senior citizens in recent cases is relatively very low. Health experts pointed out that three patients who died of Covid -- all from Ahmedabad -- were women aged 18, 20 and 47 years. "No definite pattern is emerging yet, as cases are under control ...Read More >

NEW DELHI: Former head of Air India and chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani is the new Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) director. The official order for his appointment was issued on Wednesday. A 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME), Lohani is known for turning around various organisations during his illustrious career. Following his retirement from IRSME service, he joined the GMR Group as the CEO. According to the order dated June 4, his appointment to the post of director, Prime Ministers Museum and Library in the rank and pa ...Read More >

Kerala Lottery Result Monday (June 2, 2025): The Government of Kerala oversees the Kerala State Lotteries program. It was founded in 1967 and is the first of its kind in India, operating under the Kerala government's lottery department. The government of Kerala launched the Kerala State Lotteries in 1967 after banning all private lotteries. The new department was established with the intention of giving people jobs and raising government revenue without disturbing the general public. The department employs over 500 people as of 2025, divided among 14 district offices, 21 sub-lottery offices, ...Read More >
Patiala: Union minister for agriculture and farmers' welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited Rajpura in Patiala district on Thursday as part of an ongoing initiative, Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), which is aimed at transforming Indian agriculture through direct farmer engagement and sustainable practices.At a 'Kisan Chaupal' in Gandia Kheri village, Chouhan emphasised on govt's commitment to formulating agricultural policies based on direct interactions with farmers rather than relying solely on bureaucratic inputs. " If scientists go to the ground, they'll know about the problem of farm ...Read More >

Jammu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday described the completion of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) as a historic milestone and a symbol of national integration, as he flagged off the first Vande Bharat train between Katra and Srinagar. Speaking at a massive public gathering in Katra, Modi called the moment "a grand celebration of India's unity and willpower." "With the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi, Kashmir has now been connected to India's vast railway network," he said. "For decades, the phrase 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari' has represented a dream of national unity -- ...Read More >
Census 2027: India's largest data exercise returns with digital tools and caste focus | Illustration: Binay Sinha After a nearly six-year delay, India's decennial census is finally back on the agenda. It would be conducted in two phases along with the enumeration of castes. India's population census is expected to be released on March 1, 2027. Here is everything known so far. What is the census and why it matters India's census is the largest population count in the world, conducted every 10 years by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, under the Ministry of Home Aff ...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 >

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >

Srinagar, Jun 6 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP on Friday described the completion of the Udhampur-Baramulla rail link as a "historic moment", and called the project a "precious Eid gift" for the people of the Union Territory. "The Udhampur-Baramulla railway connectivity is not just a feat of engineering, but a symbol of hope, development, and national integration.This is truly a historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir," BJP's J-K spokesperson Altaf Thakur said here. Also Read | Bodoland Lottery Result Today, June 06, 2025: Assam State Lottery Sambad Friday Lucky Draw Results Declared, ...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 >
Dehradun: A person, who completes his age of 59 years and 6 months, can now apply for an old age pension on the social welfare department's pension portal. The applicants will start receiving pension from the end of the month in which he completes the age of 60 years following the approval of his application form. This is meant to ensure that the elderly people can get the benefits of old age pension on time. The department launched a campaign to identify the eligible person for the pension According to Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Neeraj Khairwal, his department launched a month-l ...Read More >
The West Bengal Health Department on Monday (January 13, 2024) admitted to a lapse and said that they will take strict action against anyone found guilty in the administration of expired saline at Medinipur Medical College and Hospital. The government has roped in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the "lapse" which led to one woman's death and three others remained critical. Five women were administered Ringer's Lactate (RL) on the Intravenous (IV) fluid which had allegedly expired. All of them fell critically ill and one of them died after delivering a baby. Three of the ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday announced an ambitious plan of planting 7.5 crore saplings across the state within a year. Speaking at the state-level celebration of World Environment Day at the OUAT Agriculture Education Hall in city, the CM emphasised the importance of public awareness and collective responsibility in protecting nature and ending plastic pollution. "A healthy environment is essential for a healthy society," he said.Addressing the rising threat of single-use plastic, the CM urged citizens to support a mass movement to eliminate plastic from daily li ...Read More >
Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar on Wednesday (December 11, 2024) said all-round development of the State's people is possible only with mutual cooperation between the Centre and the State. The newly elected government will work to carry forward the healthy tradition of the federal structure, Mr. Gangwar said while addressing the maiden session of Jharkhand Assembly. "All-round development of the people of the State is possible only with mutual cooperation between the Centre and the State. We all are in favour of this belief. Our government will work to carry forward the healthy tradition ...Read More >