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.
New Delhi, August 25: In a major step forward for veterinary healthcare, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying on Monday released India's first comprehensive national guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for blood transfusion and blood banks for animals. Blood transfusion is widely recognised as a life-saving intervention for managing trauma, severe anaemia, surgical blood loss, infectious diseases, and coagulation disorders in animals. However, until now, India did not have a structured national framework for veterinary transfusion medicine. Most transfusions were performed only in emergencies, often without standardised donor screening, blood typing, or storage protocols. The newly released guidelines aim to bridge this critical gap by providing a scientific, ethical, and structured framework for all aspects of veterinary blood transfusion. This includes donor selection, blood collection, component processing, storage, transfusion procedures, monitoring, and safety safeguards. India's First Pet-Yakrit-Pleeha Shuddhi Kit Launched by Ayurveda Guru Acharya Manish Ji. The guidelines were developed after extensive consultations with the Veterinary Council of India, veterinary universities, ICAR institutes, state governments, practising veterinarians, and experts, ensuring that India's practices align with global best standards. Under the new framework, state-regulated veterinary blood banks will be established with biosafety-compliant infrastructure. Blood typing and cross-matching will be mandatory to prevent incompatible transfusions. The guidelines also define clear eligibility criteria for donors, covering health, vaccination status, age, weight, and disease screening. Emphasis has been placed on voluntary, non-remunerated donations with informed consent, guided by a Donor Rights Charter. The guidelines integrate One Health principles to manage zoonotic risks and provide standardised SOPs, forms, and checklists for donor registration, transfusion monitoring, and reporting adverse reactions. They also lay out a roadmap for creating a National Veterinary Blood Bank Network (N-VBBN) featuring digital registries, real-time inventories, and an emergency helpline. Training modules for veterinary students, postgraduate programmes, and continuing education for practitioners are also included. Looking ahead, the guidelines encourage innovations such as mobile blood collection units, cryopreservation of rare blood types, mobile apps for donor-recipient matching, and advanced transfusion research. India's livestock and companion animal sector is one of the largest in the world, with over 537 million livestock and more than 125 million companion animals. The sector contributes 5.5 per cent to the national GDP and over 30 per cent to agricultural GDP, playing a key role in food security, rural livelihoods, and public health. World Veterinary Day 2025 Date, History and Significance: Know About the Role of Veterinarians on This Important Global Event Towards Animal Health and Welfare. With growing demand for specialised emergency veterinary care, these guidelines are expected to significantly strengthen clinical care, save animal lives, protect rural livelihoods, and advance animal welfare across the country. Although advisory and non-statutory, the document is designed to remain dynamic, evolving with new scientific evidence, field experiences, and stakeholder feedback while maintaining high standards of animal welfare, biosafety, and public confidence.
New Delhi [India], June 26 (ANI): In a milestone for cancer care in India, President Droupadi Murmu, formally inaugurated the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) Cancer Care Centre and interacted with cancer patients on Thursday. According to an official release, the Sri Ganga Ram Hospital is a cutting-edge facility dedicated to providing comprehensive care to cancer patients. The President ceremonially visited the premises, acknowledging the hospital's pivotal role in delivering ethical and affordable healthcare, marking a presence of pride and recognition for the institution's seven-decade-long ...Read More >
Chaibasa (Jharkhand), July 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) A landmine planted by Maoists in the dense Saranda forest of Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district has claimed the life of a young male elephant, Forest Department officials said on Sunday. The six-year-old wild elephant, affectionately called 'Gadru' by local villagers, sustained grievous injuries after stepping on an IED in the Digha area of the Saranda forest on June 24. The powerful blast severely damaged the animal's hind left leg, which left it immobilised and bleeding. Locals later found the wounded pachyderm collapsed near a stream. Villag ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 3 (ANI): On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region has called for amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities to foster an inclusive and sustainable future. WHO's Regional Director, Saima Wazed, stressed that empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring their active participation in all sectors is essential to addressing the barriers they face, particularly in healthcare and during humanitarian crises. Also Read | South Korea Unrest: Martial Law Troops Enter Nat ...Read More >
Pointing to the increase in the country's stature in the world forum, he asked how, under these circumstances, the promises made to farmers cannot be fulfilled. "Policy-making is not on right track," he added.. Jagdeep Dhankhar's comments come amid a spike in farmer protests. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar took up the farmers' issue and questioned the government on their behalf today, directing most of his queries at the Union agriculture minister. Pointing to the increase in the country's sta ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 4 (ANI): In a significant milestone for India's animal health system and international trade facilitation, the country has established and secured global recognition for its first Equine Disease-Free Compartment (EDFC). Recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on July 3, this approved facility at the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre and College, Meerut Cantonment, Uttar Pradesh, marks a major step towards enabling the international movement of Indian sport horses in compliance with global biosecurity and animal health standards. According to ...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 >
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday called a meeting in Coimbatore on July 11, 2025, at 10 am to address the declining productivity of cotton in India, which has been affected by the TSV virus impacting BT cotton, bringing together experts from various fields. Speaking on the issue through a self-shot video on the social media platform X, Chouhan said, The productivity of cotton in our country is currently quite low. In recent times, productivity has declined further due to the TSV virus affecting BT cotton. Cotton production is decli ...Read More >
Loving pets at home is not a bad thing, but a Russian man lost his life due to a wound inflicted by his beloved pet cat In a shocking incident, a Russian man lost his life due to a wound inflicted by his beloved pet cat. The incident occurred on 22 November, around 11 pm. Nowadays, many people prefer to keep pets, especially dogs and cats. While dogs are considered loyal, cats are more playful but still beloved by many. Loving pets is not inherently problematic, but it is important to ensure your safety. A Russian man, Dmitry Yukhin, went into the forest in search of his beloved cat. As a p ...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 >
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 >
Srinagar: Before towering cranes and cutting-edge engineering transformed the Himalayan landscape, the monumental dream of connecting "Kashmir to Kanyakumari" by rail began with the plodding footsteps of humble mules. This extraordinary backstory underpins the official realization of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, a project crowned by the awe-inspiring Chenab Bridge. According to Afcons Infrastructure Limited, the company behind the Chenab Bridge, the earliest and most formidable hurdle wasn't just the design of ...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 >
SRINAGAR, July 2: Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today jointly chaired a high-level review meeting of the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries sectors of Jammu & Kashmir. The meeting was attended by Minister for Agriculture Production & Panchayati Raj Javid Ahmad Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Secretary GoI Alka Upadhyay, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Secretary (CDD/IT) and other senior officers from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying. Principal Secretary ...Read More >
Kolkata, July 5 (SocialNews.XYZ) The West Bengal unit of BJP, under the leadership of its new State party President Samik Bhattacharya is making all efforts to ensure a political rally in the state, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing it, before Trinamool Congress's annual Martyrs' day rally in Kolkata on July 21. An insider from the state committee of BJP said that the week before July 21, the Prime Minister is scheduled to go for an election campaign in Bihar where the Assembly polls are scheduled later this year. "We are trying hard so that the Prime Minister can spare some time ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 10 (ANI): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying (MoFAH&D), celebrated National Fish Farmers' Day 2025 on Thursday at ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) in Bhubaneswar. The event recognized the invaluable contributions of fishers, fish farmers, and fisher folk to the nation's burgeoning fisheries sector. Also Read | Physical Brawl at Congress Office in Ara: Chaos and Disruption Erupts As INC Workers Clash During Party Event in Bihar in Front of Senior Leaders (Watch Videos). Union Minister fo ...Read More >
RAIPUR: A furious sloth bear attack left a father-son duo dead and injured two others, including a deputy forest ranger, in Korar forest range of Kanker Forest Division in Chhattisgarh. The disturbing live video of the attack, which was captured by some journalists/villagers present at the site during the sloth bear's second attack went viral on social media. The sloth bear, believed to be infected by rabies, made the first attack on 45-year-old Sukhlal Darro around 11 am on January 18, said Divisional Forest Officer, Kanker, Alok Bajpai. Darro and another person identified as Ajju Kureti, ...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 >
Lucknow: State agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi on Friday said that he has requested all MPs, MLAs and district panchayat presidents to ensure their participation in 'Vikasit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan which started from May 29 and will continue till June 12.Addressing a press conference in Lok Bhawan, Shahi said that the aim of the campaign is to realize the vision of 'One Country, One Agriculture, One Team'.Under this campaign, farmers are being informed about the latest agricultural techniques, improved seeds, modern farming methods and govt schemes for Kharif crops.This campaign has bee ...Read More >
VISAKHAPATNAM: In a first for any zoological park in Andhra Pradesh, the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) in Visakhapatnam has successfully hatched 27 bird chicks through artificial incubation, while seven others were hatched naturally. The chicks belong to five bird species, including Blue Gold Macaw, Lutino Parakeet, Peach-Faced Lovebird, Red Junglefowl, and Indian Peafowl. The zoo's veterinary team, including one senior veterinarian, one conservation biologist, and two paravets and animal keepers, carried out the work. Among the 34 chicks, three Lutino Parakeets and four Peach-Faced ...Read More >
Srinagar, July 04: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) hosted the event 'Reimagining Livestock & Fisheries with Future Ready Farmers: Vision 2030' today. The event brought together policymakers, scientists, and farmers to chart a roadmap for sustainable development of Jammu & Kashmir's animal husbandry and fisheries sectors.As per a statement issued, the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh graced the occasion as chief guest, reaffirming the Central Government's commitment to transforming these vital s ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): A significant meeting aimed at boosting cotton productivity was convened on Friday at the ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, under the leadership of Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers' Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The meeting saw in-depth discussions on the history of cotton, the current scenario, challenges, and future strategies for increasing cotton productivity in India, the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare said. Also present on the occasion were Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh, H ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): Sneha Debnath, a 19-year-old girl from Sabroom in South Tripura district, reportedly went missing in the national capital. Following this, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha gave necessary instructions to the police to take immediate and appropriate action on the matter. Also Read | Trump Announces 30% Tariffs on EU Goods as Trade Talks Stall. In a statement posted on its official social media account, the Tripura Chief Minister's Office stated, "The report of Miss Sneha Debnath, a resident of Sabroom, who has reportedly gone missing in New Delhi, has come t ...Read More >
In a clear case of medical negligence, a 34-year-old woman died after doctors transferred the wrong blood type at Kakinada Government General Hospital, Andhra Pradesh. On Tuesday, November 26, the deceased, Bhavana Sirisha, was given AB+ blood group instead of O+. A house surgeon mistakenly transferred the wrong blood type. Sirisha, a resident of Palakollu in West Godavari district, was suffering from kidney ailments for the last four years and was admitted to the hospital for treatment. Doctors had advised a blood transfusion with 'O positive' group blood due to low hemoglobin levels. The ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): Paying rich tribute to Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, the world-renowned physician and doyen of medical academics, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday invoked Dr B C Roy's legacy to emphasise the importance of restoring doctor-patient trust which was the hallmark of Dr Roy's era in the first half of the 20th century, Ministry of Science & Technology said. Dr Jitendra Singh, as the Chief Guest, was speaking at the Doctors' Day celebration organised by the national body of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) here. Also Read | Bihar Assembly Elections 2025: Pra ...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 >
New Delhi [India], July 4 (ANI): In a significant milestone for India's animal health system and international trade facilitation, the country has established and secured global recognition for its first Equine Disease-Free Compartment (EDFC). Recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) on July 3, this approved facility at the Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre and College, Meerut Cantonment, Uttar Pradesh, marks a major step towards enabling the international movement of Indian sport horses in compliance with global biosecurity and animal health standards. According to ...Read More >
Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government is committed to ensure the economic progress of farmers and cattle-rearers by increasing milk production in the state, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said. Work is being done on a strategy to bring 50 per cent of state's villages under the milk collection network, Yadav said during a review meet with the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department officials on Sunday."As many as 9,500 milk producers have been linked to the cooperative dairy system by f ...Read More >
CHENNAI: In a step to address the ongoing challenges in cotton cultivation, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will chair a high-level meeting in Coimbatore tomorrow (July 11). The meeting will focus on improving cotton productivity, combating virus attacks, and ensuring the availability of quality seeds for farmers. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the meeting will bring together a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including cotton farmers, scientists, agriculture ministers of cotton-growing states, seni ...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 >
Chennai: Preliminary investigations attribute the fire on the goods train near Tiruvallur to a possible spark from overhead electrical equipment (OHE) igniting fuel leaking from a derailed wagon.The incident paralysed services on the busy Chennai-Arakkonam route and left nearby residents engulfed in thick black smoke. The disruption left thousands of rail passengers stranded, many of whom were unable to get updates as railway helplines went unanswered for hours. The train carrying diesel from Chennai Harbour to Walajah Road Siding was exiting Tiruvallur station around 5.30am on Sunday, when a ...Read More >