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: After reviewing studies conducted over 34 years, a group of Indian neonatologists concluded that shorter antibiotic courses could be as effective as traditional longer courses for serious infections such as sepsis among newborns. The review was published in an indexed and peer-reviewed UK journal, 'Lancet Clinical Medicine'. The main finding was that a seven-day antibiotic course, instead of the traditionally recommended 10-14 days, was sufficient in most newborn babies with proven blood infections."Antibiotics save lives, but unnecessary or prolonged use fuels antibiotic resistance and exposes vulnerable newborns to avoidable side-effects, longer hospital stays, and higher costs," said one of the authors, Dr Nandkishor Kabra, from Surya Hospital in Santacruz. Premature and sick newborns receive antibiotics more frequently and for longer periods than older children and adults. Dr Kabra said doctors long suspected that shorter courses might suffice in many situations, but high-quality evidence was missing. "The decision on the duration of antibiotics -- whether 7, 10, or 14 days -- was decided arbitrarily by our predecessors," he said.Hence, the group started a project to find if it's feasible to "reduce the course duration of antibiotics". They checked studies from 1990 to 2024 and reviewed 146 articles before focusing on 26 for their analysis. The main recommendation is that a seven-day antibiotic course works as well as 10- to 14-day courses. The study's main author, Dr Sourabh Dutta of PGI-Chandigarh, told TOI: "Shortening the duration of antibiotic therapy from 14 days to 7 days and/or tailoring the duration based on normalisation of the values of certain blood tests (called biomarkers) will have huge benefits for the baby, the family, the treating team, and for society."The research also checked on the biomarker-guided antibiotic durations -- conducting specialised blood tests to determine if the medicines worked. "You start treating these babies, and the biomarkers turn negative, and the baby looks good, then that should guide us to stop antibiotics early," said Dr Kabra.According to a new paper released by the World Health Organisation, the incidence of antimicrobial resistance or the emergence of superbugs is increasing at a rapid pace; one in six lab-confirmed blood infections is due to drug-resistant bacteria. "The WHO says that antimicrobial infection is outpacing advances in modern medicine, threatening the health of families worldwide. It is hoped that the results of our meta-analyses will contribute towards reducing the burden of antimicrobial resistance in newborn units worldwide," said Dr Dutta.The authors said that if the use of shorter courses in appropriate cases is widely adopted, it could help combat antibiotic resistance, limit hospital-acquired infections, and improve resource use -- especially in high-burden settings. "Funding agencies should prioritise future studies in the identified evidence gaps," they added.
Varanasi: The vital parameters of renowned classical vocalist Padma Vibhushan Pandit Chhannulal Mishra, who was shifted to the ICU of SSL Hospital of BHU on Saturday, showed signs of stabilization and improvement on Monday.According to a medical bulletin issued by the hospital on Monday, Mishra is currently on non-invasive ventilator support and is receiving appropriate antibiotic therapy, insulin, and other supportive treatment measures. The 89-year-old maestro was admitted to the ICU on Sept 13 in a critical condition. He has a history of Type-2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoarthriti ...Read More >
Gastroenterologist Dr. Joseph Salhab joins 'Fox & Friends' to examine a new study on the effects of pathogenic gut bacteria and tips for limiting exposure to harmful bacteria. Human infections from drug-resistant bacteria are spiking in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned. The CDC's laboratory tests have shown that occurrences of a bacteria called NDM-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE) have increased dramatically. NDM-CRE belongs to a broa ...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, 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 >
A monumental increase of more than 400% in infections from a dangerous drug-resistant bacteria known as New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE) suggests a growing risk for life-threatening illnesses and deaths with limited treatment options, based on two recent reports. New data in the Annals of Internal Medicine and the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) show spikes in NDM-CRE, a type of gram-negative bacteria often treated with ...Read More >
As India prepares to co-host the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi from December 17 to 19, it is a moment not only of policy significance but of civilisational resonance. Traditional medicine has always been a bridge between cultures, knowledge systems and societies. Today, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has transformed this inherited strength into a global instrument of goodwill, cooperation, and wellness diplomacy. The world inc ...Read More >
Hyderabad, Dec 3 (Maxim News): The inspecting teams of Drugs Control Administration (DCA), Telangana State raided a healthcare facility operated by a quack Banothu Srinu and seized illegally stocked drugs meant for sale at Beerappagadda, Uppal Khalsa village, medical-Malkajgiri district. Click Here To Join Us On WhatsApp Banothu Srinu was practicing medicine without proper MBBS qualification at his healthcare facility named Anjali Clinic. During the course of the raid, the DCA teams seized 17 varieties of medicines worth Rs. 20,500 including antibiotics, steroids, antifungal drugs, analgesic ...Read More >
Project led by Professor Sivaprakasam with international team The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by releasing the most detailed high-resolution 3D images of the human fetal brain. Developed by researchers at the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre, this pioneering project is the first of its kind globally, showcasing over 5,132 digitally captured brain sections at a cellular level using advanced brain mapping technology. The dataset, apt ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 29 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today highlighted a series of public health achievements, with a special emphasis on the eradication of eye disease trachoma, promotion of traditional wellness practices such as yoga, and women-led health initiatives at the grassroot levels. Addressing the nation in the 123rd edition of his radio talk show Mann Ki Baat, the PM lauded India's successful elimination of Trachoma, a bacterial eye infection, which has now been declared eradicated by the World Health Organisation (WHO). "I am very happy to share with you that WHO has declared I ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 12 (PTI) The WHO has acknowledged India's efforts in integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) with traditional medicine systems, particularly Ayush systems, the Centre said on Saturday. The World Health Organization praised the country's efforts in a technical brief - Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine. The release follows India's proposal on the subject, leading to the development of WHO's first-ever roadmap for using AI in traditional medicine, the Ayush ministry said in a statement. India's efforts to harness the potential of AI to a ...Read More >
Pune: The Indian Gig Workers' Front on Saturday evening suspended the ongoing strike of cabs and autorickshaws operating on applications till Tuesday, after leaving many commuters, including those arriving at the airport on Saturday morning, hassled. Keshav Kshirsagar, the president of the front, said, "We have a meeting on Tuesday with senior officials of the state transport department. If its decisions don't meet our expectations, the strike will resume." Several commuters had a harrowing experience on roads on Friday and in the early hours of Saturday. Cabs and autos were hard to come by. T ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The incidence of cancer in India has gone up by 26%, from 84.8 per 1 lakh population in 1990 to 107.2 in 2023, according to a new study. Published in The Lancet, it shows deaths due to cancer increased by 21% during this period, despite advances in treatment. In comparison, both incidence and mortality have declined significantly in US and China over the 33-year period. The reason behind this is strong tobacco control, universal vaccination and organised screening in these two countries, Dr Abhishek Shankar, radiation-oncologist at AIIMS Delhi, said. India, he added, continues to fa ...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 >
A Chandigarh research team has identified a new threat. A bacterium called Bordetella holmesii is now causing more whooping cough-like illnesses in North India. This bacterium has surpassed Bordetella pertussis in prevalence. The rise was most significant in 2023, affecting children aged five to ten. This shift signals an evolving pattern in respiratory illnesses in the region. A team at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, has reported a significant ...Read More >
New Delhi, April 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) Marking the occasion of World Health Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed heartfelt gratitude to healthcare workers and all those committed to improving global well-being, while reiterating the need to build a healthier and more inclusive society. Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi said, "On World Health Day, we express our gratitude to all those who dedicate themselves tirelessly to the service of others and work towards a healthier planet. We also reaffirm our commitment to building a healthier society. Let us all keep working to ...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 >
New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) Apex drug regulatory body CDSCO has listed 17 drugs which should be flushed down the toilet rather than being thrown in dustbins if they have expired or are unused to help prevent harm to people and pets at home. These include tramadol, tapentadol, diazepam, oxycodone and fentanyl which may be especially harmful and in some cases fatal with just one dose if they are used by someone other than the person for whom the medicine was prescribed, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) said. Most of these medicines are used to control pain, anxiety and other ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday lauded two major national achievements in public health and social security during his monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat, calling them milestones that "will fill every Indian with pride." Citing praise from global organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Prime Minister said India has been declared Trachoma-free by WHO, marking a major public health victory, and that over 64% of the Indian population now benefits from some form of social protection, as recognised in a ...Read More >
Mangaluru: Well-known physician Dr. Srinivas Kakkilaya has urged the government to withdraw the recent report submitted by the expert committee headed by Dr. K.S. Ravindranath of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research. The report concerns sudden cardiac deaths and, according to Dr. Kakkilaya, is incomplete and flawed. Speaking to Vartha Bharati, Dr. Kakkilaya said that the report, as claimed by media outlets, states there is no link between COVID-19 vaccination and recent sudden deaths. However, he clarified that no such conclusion exists in the report. He pointed out ...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 >
Bareilly (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) A teacher from Bahedi district, who went viral recently after reciting a poem mentioning Kanwar Yatra, approached the police on Thursday stating a threat to his life from anti-social elements. A case has been registered at Bahedi police station based on a complaint from Dr Rajneesh Kumar Gangwar, a teacher at MGM Inter College in the district. According to Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh, Gangwar's complaint says that ever since his recitation of the poem 'Tum Kanwad Lene Mat Jana, Gyaan Ka Deepak Jalaana' (You don't go get Kavad, light the lamp of knowledge inste ...Read More >
Mumbai, Sep 12 (PTI) The Indian Medical Association (IMA)'s Maharashtra chapter has warned of a strike on September 18 if the state government does not withdraw its fresh notification on registration of homeopathic doctors who have completed certificate course in modern pharmacology. Earlier this year, the state government directed the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to register homeopaths who had completed the one-year Certificate Course in Modern Pharmacology (CCMP), allowing such practitioners to prescribe allopathic medicines to patients in select cases. A fresh government resolution ( ...Read More >
Hyderabad: In observance of World Sepsis Day, the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM) - Hyderabad Chapter organized a public awareness walk at Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge, Hyderabad, bringing together doctors, nurses, medical students, healthcare workers, and members of the public to raise awareness about one of the world's most overlooked medical emergencies - sepsis. Held under the global theme "Stop Sepsis - Save Lives," the event aimed to educate citizens about the warning signs, risk factors, and the critical importance of early recognition and treatment of sepsis, which con ...Read More >
The racket had been operating for the past one to one-and-a-half years. Delhi: An organised racket involved in the illegal diversion and sale of government-supplied medicines meant for free distribution in public hospitals was busted by the Delhi Police Crime Branch. Medicines worth approximately Rs 70 lakh have been recovered, and five accused have been arrested so far. Acting on specific intelligence, a raiding team laid a trap at Jai Bharat Transport in Delhi's Tis Hazari on Thursday. Three ...Read More >
Biocon Biologics, in collaboration with Diabetes Africa and St Paul’s Hospital in Ethiopia, has launched the Embedding Specialist Nurses in Diabetes Care project. The initiative focuses on training nurses to become diabetes specialists to address the country’s growing diabetes crisis. With Ethiopia ranking among the top countries in sub-Saharan Africa for diabetes prevalence, this project aims to integrate diabetes care into primary healthcare, enhancing accessibility and care quality. By upskilling nurses and establishing a structured pathway for them, the program seeks to improve diabetes ma ...Read More >
Gurgaon: A chemist and a lab operator have been arrested for allegedly selling medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) kits illegally. Two separate FIRs were lodged against the accused at Sector 10 and Sector 9A police stations, police said on Friday.The pharmacy was sealed and medical officials have initiated proceedings to cancel its licence. District drugs control officer Suresh Verma said the department received information about illegal sales of MTP kits - also called abortion kits - from Juneja Chemist, located near Civil Hospital. A pregnant woman, who was deployed as a decoy customer, v ...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 >
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. NDM-CRE infections have been historically uncommon in the United States, the CDC said. The NDM gene - which was first identified in 2008 from a Swedish patient who had been hospitalized in New Delhi - creates an enzyme that destroys most antibiotics, including so-called carbapenems, which are usually used in last-ditch efforts to save patients with infections that fail to respond to standard antibiotics, The Washington Post ...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 >
Bengaluru, March 31 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Congress on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central Government over a fresh wave of price hikes set to take effect on April 1. Addressing a joint press conference at the KPCC headquarters in Bengaluru, AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and Karnataka deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar categorized the new fiscal year as a "day of loot, rob, and fleece" for the hardworking citizens of the country. Surjewala said, "Come April 1, 2026, the curse of 'Bele Erike' (price rise) is unleashed on Kannadigas, as a ...Read More >