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.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) Kerala chapter has clarified the guidelines on the use of cough syrups in children, following an advisory issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Government of India. The DGHS had recently cautioned against the use of cough syrups in children below two years of age, stating that most acute cough illnesses in this group are self-limiting and do not require medicines. In its statement, IAP Kerala said that combination cough syrups and cold medications should not be prescribed to children under two years. Their use in older children, the academy noted, should be strictly based on clinical evaluation, proper dosing, the shortest effective duration, and close medical supervision. It added that bronchodilators may be given in cases of bronchoconstriction, such as asthma or wheezing disorders, with inhaled forms through a metered-dose inhaler and spacer which are considered both effective and safe. The use of antihistamines may be appropriate in children above six months of age in conditions like allergic rhinitis with cough, the statement said.
New Delhi [India], July 16 (ANI): The Indian government expressed regret on Tuesday over the reported demolition of the ancestral property of celebrated filmmaker and writer Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, Bangladesh and expressed its willingness to extend cooperation in its restoration. "We note with profound regret that the ancestral property of noted filmmaker and litterateur Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, belonging to his grandfather and eminent litterateur, Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury, is being demolished," the Ministry of External Affairs said. Also Read | India Urges Bangladesh ...Read More >
New Delhi -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday issued a health advisory warning against the use and distribution of three cough syrups believed to be responsible for the deaths of several children in India over the last month. The drugs were identified as specific batches of Coldrif, Respifresh TR and ReLife, the WHO said in a statement, manufactured by three Indian companies: Sresan Pharmaceutical, Rednex Pharmaceuticals, and Shape Pharma. The oral liquid drugs were found to conta ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], October 8 (ANI): The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has expressed serious concern over the reported deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh linked to the consumption of a particular cough syrup. In a letter to the Union Health Minister on Wednesday, the association stated that the incident raised serious questions about the safety, quality assurance, and monitoring mechanisms governing the manufacture and distribution of pharmaceutical products for children. FAIMA requested to constitute a Central Investigation Committee under the Ministry to conduct a de ...Read More >
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday launched searches at seven locations in Chennai in connection with the Coldrif cough syrup case, which led to the deaths of several children. The raids are being conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and are linked to Sreesan Pharma, the manufacturer of the syrup that is now banned across several states in the country. Premises being searched by the central probe agency reportedly include residences of top offic ...Read More >
Delhi AQI Today: Delhi's air quality has deteriorated to a 'very poor' category. Authorities have kept Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan in effect. Truck-mounted water sprinklers are being used to combat pollution. Cloud seeding is being considered as a potential solution. Health experts warn of serious health impacts from the rising pollution levels. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi worsened on Sunday morning, reaching the 'very poor' category, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported. On Saturday, AQI levels were under the 'poor' category, with Stage II of the Grade ...Read More >
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season has barely begun, but it has already delivered its first major controversy. Following Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) six-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium, a pointed remark from captain Ajinkya Rahane has triggered a wider debate - forcing Cricket Australia (CA) to step in with a clarification. At the centre of the storm is Cameron Green, KKR's high-profile signing worth INR 25.20 crore, who did not bowl a single over despite MI's dominant chase of 220. KKR seemed in control after posting a commanding 220/4, but the script ...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: A defiant Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday scaled the gates of the Naqshband Sahib graveyard to pay tributes to the 22 people killed by the Dogra army on July 13, 1931. The dramatic scene unfolded a day after Abdullah and several leaders of the National Conference and opposition parties were put under house arrest to prevent them from going to the graveyard to mark Martyrs' Day. National Conference president Farooq Abdullah took an autorickshaw from the Khanyar crossing to the martyrs memorial while Minister for Education Sakina Ittoo surprised everyone by r ...Read More >
Chandigarh: Officials of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh have revealed that the top 20 property tax defaulters of the city are yet to clear dues of over Rs 190 crore, while property tax arrear cases worth Rs 62 crore are under litigation in the Punjab and Haryana high court. Citing different reasons, occupants of seven properties, out of the top 20, have challenged the MC's arrears amount, following which the authority failed to recover the amount from them. All these properties fall under the commercial category. As per official data of the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, commercial prope ...Read More >
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has cancelled the manufacturing licences of Sresan Pharmaceuticals, the Kancheepuram-based firm that produced the toxic batch of Coldrif cough syrups linked to the deaths of 14 children in Madhya Pradesh. Of the children who died, 11 were from Parasia sub-division, two from Chhindwara city and one from Chaurai tehsil. On Sunday, the Parasia police arrested a government doctor for alleged negligence and registered a case against Sresan Pharmaceuticals, officials said. State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian said the State Drug Control dep ...Read More >
A government hospital in Gwalior has sealed its entire stock of Azithromycin antibiotic after a complaint alleged worms were found in a bottle given to a child. This incident follows recent child deaths in Madhya Pradesh linked to a toxic cough syrup. Samples of the antibiotic have been sent for testing. Amid child deaths linked to a toxic cough syrup in Madhya Pradesh, a government hospital in Gwalior is now facing a complaint over worms allegedly found in a bottle of antibiotic medicine given ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): Delhi's worsening air quality has triggered a sharp rise in respiratory and cardiac health problems, with doctors warning that the national capital is facing a "silent public health emergency" as the Air Quality Index (AQI) continues to remain in the 'severe' category. Medical experts have reported a nearly 90 per cent increase in respiratory illness cases among both children and adults visiting outpatient departments (OPDs), directly linked to prolonged exposure to toxic air. Also Read | Delhi Air Pollution: Government Directs Schools To Shift to Online ...Read More >
Severe air pollution in northern India has led to a surge in demand for respiratory medications, with Foracort becoming India’s top-selling drug in October. The inhaler, used to treat asthma and COPD, recorded Rs 75 crore in sales, surpassing popular medicines like Augmentin and Glycomet-GP. Manufactured by Cipla, Foracort combines budesonide and formoterol for effective dual-action therapy. Other respiratory drugs, Duolin and Budecort, also saw increased sales. With Delhi’s Air Quality Index reaching hazardous levels, the rise in respiratory issues underscores the urgent need for better healt ...Read More >
Ahmedabad, June 27: Union Home Minister Amit Shah began his Gujarat visit on a spiritual note early Friday morning by participating in the Mangala Aarti at the historic Shri Jagannathji Temple in Jamalpur, Ahmedabad. The visit coincides with the auspicious occasion of the annual Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra, a major religious event that draws thousands of devotees every year. Arriving at the temple at 3:15 a.m., HM Shah joined in the sacred rituals and offered prayers to Mahaprabhu Jagannath. Sharing his experience on social media platform X, he posted, "On the sacred occasion of Rath Yatra, par ...Read More >
Patna, Aug 1 (PTI) Healthcare services were affected at AIIMS-Patna on Friday as resident doctors went on an "indefinite strike" in protest against the alleged high-handedness of Sheohar MLA Chetan Anand. According to a press statement issued by the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA), AIIMS-Patna, on Friday, "The RDA expresses deep disappointment and anguish over the lack of action by the administration following the violent and traumatic incident that occurred on Wednesday, when MLA Chetan Anand, his wife and their armed guards breached hospital security, physically assaulted staff, and thr ...Read More >
NEW DELHI/BATHINDA: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Friday conducted searches at 22 de-addiction centres across Punjab, including in Chandigarh, Barnala and Ludhiana, after its investigation revealed illegal sale of drugs by these centres. The agency also searched a premise in Mumbai linked to the accused.Dr Amit Bansal, who runs these 22 centres, is prime accused in the case, sources said. Bansal, against whom Punjab Police has registered multiple FIRs, is alleged to be engaged in illegal sale of drugs from his de-addiction centres.Privately-run drug de-addiction centres in Punjab are ...Read More >
"Currently, there are around 800 medical device manufacturers in the country, and India's annual growth of the Medtech sector is 15 to 20 per cent," said Singh. Image: ANI India's pharma exports, currently valued at nearly USD 27.8 billion, are expected to cross $30 billion by the year-end, said Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Tuesday. Singh stated that India's domestic pharma market is $60 billion, but is expected to double, that is, $13 ...Read More >
Delhi Air Pollution: As the Air Quality Index (AQI) remains in the 'very poor' category, increasing the risks of health problems, especially respiratory issues, the former director of AIIMS Delhi, Dr Randeep Guleria, on Wednesday said that those who have underlying respiratory conditions, need to be extra careful. Guleria, who is also the Chairman of Internal Medicine, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Medanta The Medicity, noted that to some extent, the rising air pollution can be termed a public health emergency because it is going to lead to increased symptoms, with more people coming to t ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], October 24 (ANI): As air quality levels in Delhi dipped into the 'poor' and 'very poor' categories on Friday morning, former AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria cautioned residents about the serious health implications of rising pollution and urged preventive measures to minimise exposure. Speaking to ANI, Dr Guleria said, "The current high levels of air pollution, indicated by poor AQI, are leading to acute health effects, particularly among individuals with underlying heart or lung conditions, the elderly, and young children. These groups are experiencing increased chest di ...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 >
Srinagar, Jul 3 (PTI) The annual Amarnath Yatra began on Thursday with the first batches of pilgrims setting off from the twin base camps in Baltal and Nunwan towards the 3880-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas, which houses a naturally formed ice-lingam, officials said. The yatra started early morning from the twin tracks -- the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the 14-km Baltal route. The batches of pilgrims, including men, women and sadhus, left from the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam, in south Kashmir's Anantnag, and Baltal base camp in Sonamarg area of central ...Read More >
Lucknow, Jul 17 (PTI) To curb illegal mining and transportation, the Uttar Pradesh government is deploying advanced technologies under the Integrated Mining Surveillance System (IMSS), a release said on Thursday. Mining activities are already being monitored through drones, geo-fencing, RFID tags, and AI-powered check gates. Now, the state is set to introduce 'Weigh-In-Motion' (WIM) technology to accurately track vehicle overloading. Also Read | 'Arvind Kejriwal Used Government Funds to Buy Mobiles Costing Up to INR 1.63 Lakh', Claims Delhi Minister Ashish Sood. According to the official re ...Read More >
Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], September 3 (ANI): The second newborn, who was bitten by rats in MY hospital in Indore district, also died on Wednesday afternoon, a day after the first newborn succumbed, an official said. Two newborns undergoing treatment at MY hospital were bitten by rats on the intervening night Sunday and Monday, and one of them died on Tuesday morning. Also Read | Devendra Fadnavis an Architect of Historic Decisions on Maratha Quota, Says Maharashtra Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil. "The health condition of the second child was critical, and the child was also suffer ...Read More >
The World Health Organization is seeking details from India regarding a cough syrup linked to child deaths. Several Indian states have banned the 'Coldrif' syrup. Lab reports confirmed it contained a toxic industrial solvent. A criminal case has been registered against the manufacturer, Sresan Pharma. The doctor who prescribed the syrup has been arrested. The World Health Organization on Wednesday sought clarification from Indian authorities on whether a cough syrup linked to deaths of children ...Read More >
An analysis of CPCB data showed that post-Diwali, PM 2.5 levels have touched 488 micrograms per cubic metre, the highest in five years and over three times the pre-festival level of 156.6 micrograms per cubic metre. Three out of four households in Delhi-NCR are already experiencing the ill-effects of toxic air, with common complaints ranging from sore throat and cough to burning eyes, headaches and disturbed sleep, according to an online survey by citizen engagement platform LocalCircles. An an ...Read More >
With Delhi grappling with the season's worst air quality, there has been a surge in the number of patients with respiratory issues at city hospitals in the past two days, according to doctors. Resurgence of health issues has been noticed in patients whose conditions had stabilised, they added. Doctors pointed out that persistent dry cough, fatigue, and difficulty inbreathing were common issues facing people ofall ages. Thesewere particularly severein the elderly, children, and those ...Read More >
India's tuberculosis (TB) programme has achieved a 21% reduction in TB incidence over the past decade, but the country continues to carry the world's largest TB burden and has yet to meet TB elimination targets. Over this period, technology solutions have entered the public health domain in increasingly ambitious ways, integrating into the programmatic layer of how health systems organise and monitor care. Digital adherence technologies such as video-observed therapy, smart pillboxes, and missed-call confirmation systems were among the first widely deployed solutions to remotely monitor daily ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 17 (PTI) Drug firm Granules India on Tuesday said its subsidiary has received approval from the US health regulator for a generic medication used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Granules Pharmaceuticals, Inc (GPI) has received approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) for its abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate chewable tablets, the drug firm said in a statement. The approved drug is available in multiple strengths; 10 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, 40 mg, 50 mg, and 60 mg, it added. The company's product is the generic ...Read More >
Srinagar, Aug 3: The Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums on Sunday said that an ancient Shivling had been unearthed and safely housed in the SPS Museum Srinagar for public display. A statement of the Department of Archives, Archaeology and Museums issued here said that it was pleased to announce the discovery of an ancient Shivling carved from stone, measuring 137 cm in length and 160 cm in width, approximately dating back to the 10th Century CE, recovered during sand extraction by local labourers from the Jhelum River near the Army camp at Khanpora in Baramulla. The statement sa ...Read More >