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.
India is once again reeling from a preventable tragedy: the death of 25 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan due to contaminated cough syrup. This grim pattern of recurring medical negligence and weak drug regulation can be traced as far back as 1986, when 14 patients died in Mumbai's JJ Hospital after consuming glycerol contaminated with 18.5 per cent diethylene glycol (DEG). Then followed 11 child deaths in Bihar (1988), 33 in Gurgaon (1998), and 12 in Jammu & Kashmir (2020). International
India's pharmaceutical industry, valued at $50 billion, is booming as a global leader in generic drugs. With significant exports to 200+ countries, India meets a substantial portion of global demand for affordable medicine. Challenges include regulatory hurdles and quality assurance, as the nation aims to expand its generic drug market. The Indian pharmaceutical industry, currently valued at $50 billion, is playing an increasingly crucial role on the global stage. Renowned as the 'pharmacy of the world,' India's pharma sector is a major exporter, supplying essential generic drugs to over 200 ...Read More >
Jammu, Jul 12 (PTI) The license of four pharmaceutical firms have been cancelled after they were allegedly found indulging in "clandestine purchase and sale" of addictive drugs in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said on Saturday. State Drugs Controller-cum-Licensing Authority Lotika Khajuria ordered enforcement action against Healthways Pharma, Rajouri, Nuegene Pharmaceutical Distributors and N T Traders of Baramulla and Essence Pharmaceutical Distributors of Srinagar, following inspection of the wholesale firms, an official spokesperson said. Also Read | Is There Sunday Mega Block on July 13 ...Read More >
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 [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 >
Hyderabad: A devastating explosion at a chemical manufacturing unit in Pashamylaram industrial area in Sangareddy district, claimed 15 lives and left 34 workers injured. The tragic incident occurred on Monday at Sigachi Industries Pvt Ltd which manufactures microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) powder used in pharmaceutical, food and other industries. Eyewitnesses said there was a loud explosion, shaking nearby areas and sending thick black smoke into the sky. The factory was soon engulfed in flames, triggering panic among employees and nearby residents. The incident occurred around 9 am on Monday ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) Shares of pharmaceuticals firm Sigachi Industries Ltd fell nearly 6 per cent on Tuesday, extending their previous day's decline, after an explosion at its manufacturing facility in Telangana killed several people. The stock plunged 5.57 per cent to settle at Rs 46.07 on the BSE. During the day, it dropped 8.36 per cent to Rs 44.71. Also Read | Who Is PVN Madhav? Here's Everything You Need To Know About the Newly Appointed Andhra Pradesh BJP President. At the NSE, it fell by 5.76 per cent to end at Rs 45.95. Shares of Sigachi Industries Ltd had tanked over 11.50 per c ...Read More >
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 1 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla has sparked controversy by denying any link between contaminated cough syrup and the deaths of six children in Chhindwara district. Despite ongoing investigations, Shukla stated that preliminary findings show no contamination in the syrup, claiming, "These deaths did not occur due to the cough syrup for sure," ahead of the examination report, with samples sent to laboratories in Nagpur and Pune for analysis. Reacting to the issue, Health Minister Shukla told reporters, " ...Read More >
Mumbai: Dr Reddy's Laboratories has entered into a collaboration with Reykjavik, Ireland-based biotech company Alvotech to co-develop, manufacture and commercialise a biosimilar version of blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda for the global markets. Keytruda (generic name is pembrolizumab), manufactured and marketed by Merck & Co, is the most successful medicine, recording worldwide sales of $29.5 billion in 2024. It is used to treat multiple forms of cancer. Under the terms of the agreement, both companies will be jointly responsible for developing and manufacturing the biosimilar candidate and ...Read More >
Chennai: Apollo Hospitals Enterprise, controlled by the Prathap Reddy family, has announced a significant reorganisation where its pharmacy distribution and digital health operations will be carved out into a separate entity. This new entity, Apollo Healthtech, will seek listing on stock exchanges over the next 18 to 21 months, with current Apollo Hospitals shareholders receiving proportionate shares in the new company. The deal will create a leading omni-channel pharmacy distribution and digital health platform in India with revenues of Rs 16,300 crore ($1.9 billion), Apollo Hospitals said in ...Read More >
Jammu, Jul 12 (PTI) The license of four pharmaceutical firms have been cancelled after they were allegedly found indulging in "clandestine purchase and sale" of addictive drugs in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said on Saturday. State Drugs Controller-cum-Licensing Authority Lotika Khajuria ordered enforcement action against Healthways Pharma, Rajouri, Nuegene Pharmaceutical Distributors and N T Traders of Baramulla and Essence Pharmaceutical Distributors of Srinagar, following inspection of the wholesale firms, an official spokesperson said. During the inspections, he said the four pharma e ...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 >
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 >
NEW DELHI: Signalling the government's intent to move ahead with the impeachment motion of Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said that main opposition parties have given their in-principle approval to support the motion in the upcoming monsoon session scheduled for July21-August 21. Rijiju said that the government is yet to decide whether the motion would be brought in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. For the Lok Sabha, signatures of a minimum 100 MPs is required. The requirement is the support of at least 50 MPs in the Rajya Sabha. H ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): In a significant milestone for global healthcare innovation, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a technical brief titled 'Mapping the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Traditional Medicine', acknowledging India's pioneering efforts in AI with traditional medicine systems, particularly Ayush systems. The release follows India's proposal on the subject, leading to the development of WHO's first-ever roadmap for applying AI in traditional medicine, the AYUSH Ministry said in a release on Saturday. The WHO publication not only validates Ind ...Read More >
New Delhi, Sep 26 (PTI) Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) on Friday said US President Donald Trump's move to impose 100 per cent import tariffs on pharmaceutical drugs from October 1 will impact only patented and branded products, not generic medicines. Reacting to the development, IPA Secretary General Sudarshan Jain said in a statement, "It is not applicable to generics medicines." Trump's statement refers to patented and branded products supplied to US, he added. In his post on social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Starting October 1st, 2025, we will be imposing a 100% Tari ...Read More >
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, reacting to US President Donald Trump's imposition of 100% tariffs on imports of branded and patented pharmaceutical drugs from October 1, 2025, said the government is monitoring the situation closely. On Thursday, the Trump administration announced that starting October 1, 2025, it will be imposing a 100% tariff on any branded or patented pharmaceutical product, unless a company is building their pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in America. Experts say Trump's decision is unlikely to have a significant impact on the ...Read More >
New Delhi, Sept 29 (UNI) On World Heart Day, voices from the government, medical fraternity, and public figures united in urging Indians to adopt healthier lifestyles to combat the rising threat of cardiovascular diseases -- especially among the youth. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the world's leading cause of death, claiming an estimated 19.8 million lives in 2022 alone, according to the WHO. These accounted for 32% of all global deaths, with heart attacks and strokes responsible for 85% of the toll -- highlighting the urgent need for prevention, early detection, and accessible care. ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Dec 3 (PTI) The Karnataka government on Tuesday requested the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) to investigate and take necessary action against a West Bengal-based manufacturer, amid concerns that recent maternal deaths in Ballari district, could be linked to substandard Ringer Lactate solution supplied by the company. In a letter, Karnataka Health Principal Secretary Harsh Gupta, drew the attention of the DCGI to the supply of several batches of "Compound Sodium Lactate I P (Ringer's Lactate I P)" by the West Bengal-based pharmaceutical company Paschim Banga Pharmaceutical ...Read More >
Thiruvananthapuram: Ravada A Chandrasekhar took charge as the new State Police Chief on Tuesday. He succeeds Shaik Darvesh Saheb, who retired on June 30. His tenure will run until July 1, 2027. A 1991-batch IPS officer currently serving as Special Director with the Intelligence Bureau, Chandrasekhar is on central deputation. He was selected over Nitin Agarwal, who topped the official list of probables. The appointment order, issued by Kerala Chief Secretary Dr A Jayathilak on behalf of the Governor, was released soon after a cabinet meeting held on Monday. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh's Godav ...Read More >
New Delhi, Sep 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) Even after being preventable and treatable, cholera continues as a global health problem with 31 countries reporting outbreaks in 2025, according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday. The report showed that despite treatment being available, deaths due to the disease rose by 50 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023. For the second consecutive year, more than 6000 people have died from the disease, while cases rose by 5 per cent. While the numbers are alarming, they are underestimates of the true burden of cholera, stated the report ...Read More >
Mumbai, September 26: The Indian benchmark indices opened lower on Friday, following US President Donald Trump's announcement of tariffs on pharma imports and sustained selling by foreign institutional investors. As of 9.25 am, Sensex was down 388 points, or 0.48 per cent at 80,771 and Nifty was down 119 points, or 0.48 per cent at 24,771. Shares of Indian and other Asian pharmaceutical companies fell after Trump announced tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports of branded and patented pharmaceutical drugs, starting October 1, 2025. Apart from drugs, President Trump announced a 50 per cent d ...Read More >
For the month, FII sold equities worth Rs 30,141.68 crore, while DII bought equities worth Rs 55,736.09 crore. The broader indices broke a three-week gaining streak and underperformed the main indices as markets remained under pressure throughout the week on worries over fresh tariffs on pharma, higher visa fees by the US, persistent trade concerns, and continued FII selling. For the week, Nifty50 plunged 672.35 points or 2.65 percent to finish at 24,654.70, while the BSE Sensex index declined ...Read More >
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], September 26 (ANI): The Pharmaceutical companies and chemists in Shimla have begun implementing the revised GST night tariff on medicines, bringing much-needed relief to patients and the poor. Managers and pharmacy owners in the capital confirmed that the new reforms, effective as of September 22, have already reduced the prices of many essential and life-saving medications. Mahesh Bisht, Manager at a pharmaceutical company, explained the changes, "From September 22, the new GST reforms and tariffs have come into effect. Items that were earlier under the 12% ...Read More >
New Delhi, Sep 26 (PTI) India and the US have decided to continue negotiations for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement, the Commerce Ministry said on Friday. The statement was issued after the return of the Indian official delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to New York for trade talks. The delegation returned on September 24 after holding three-day talks. Both sides held constructive meetings on various aspects of the trade deal, the ministry said in a statement. "Both sides exchanged views on possible contours of the deal, and it ...Read More >
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], September 29: As India observes World Heart Day, the conversation around cardiovascular health has once again turned to prevention, timely treatment, and most importantly, access to affordable medicines for everyone. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in India at 28.1%, with more than half a billion people affected by a heart ailment. While treatment protocols have advanced, the cost of long-term medication continues to be a burden for many families. More so if one takes into account the fact that almost half of them cannot afford the medication. Als ...Read More >
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that nearly 95 crore people in India are currently benefiting from one social security scheme or another, a significant rise from the less than 25 crore who were covered by such schemes before 2015. Speaking during his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address, Modi referred to a recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) report, which highlighted that more than 64% of India's population is now receiving some form of social protection. "Presently, most o ...Read More >
The explosion in the Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) drying unit also left more than 30 workers injured. The condition of some of them is stated to be critical. The death toll in the explosion in a pharmaceutical unit at Pashamylaram near Hyderabad mounted to 36 on Tuesday. With some of the injured succumbing at hospitals and rescue workers recovering more bodies from debris, the death toll rose sharply since Monday. The toll in the worst industrial disaster in Telangana may go up further as the rescue workers continued searches for the bodies in the debris of a three-storey building which ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) About one in every five women in the WHO Southeast Asia Region, including India, are covered under a health insurance, a study published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia has estimated. One in eight women in the region -- defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) -- were enrolled in social security schemes. At the same time, only one in thirteen had privately purchased or commercial insurance, the analysis reveals. The 'WHO Southeast Asia Region' includes India, among other countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar and Indonesia. Researchers from Health S ...Read More >