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.
Panaji: As many as 5,168 symptomatic and vulnerable persons were tested for tuberculosis last month, the highest number of tests in a single month to date, chief medical officer in charge of the national TB elimination programme, Dr Manish Gaunekar, told TOI. Goa has been ramping up TB testing, with the country aiming to eliminate the disease by this year.In 2020, Goa was the first state to provide a rapid molecular test (NAAT) for the early diagnosis of TB. The aim is to interrupt the chain of transmission through early detection, timely treatment, and community-wide awareness, Gaunekar said."We are identifying high-risk patients and giving them differentiated TB care. For example, people with low BMI is flagged as high risk, and we provide them with additional supplements through Nikshay Mitras so that they improve their immunity," he said. Persons with uncontrolled diabetes are directed to diabetic educators and admitted if required.As Goa sees between 50 and 60 patients with drug-resistant TB a year, patients are also counselled for adherence so that they complete their course of medication. "Alcoholism is a challenge, and we link alcoholics to de-addiction centres," he said.Former GMC dean, Dr S Bandekar, had attributed the high TB death rate to alcoholism. He had said the livers of alcoholics don't support the strong medication used to treat TB. In most cases, the medication has to be withdrawn as the liver doesn't support it, he had said, explaining that the patients then get jaundice and yellow sclera, and turn really ill.The floating population also poses a challenge to TB elimination, with some moving between states and becoming unreachable. Any person detected with TB in the state, even in an advanced stage, is added to Goa's TB statistics. Similarly, any person who dies of TB in Goa, irrespective of when the person arrived in Goa, is added to the state's numbers.Compared to other constituencies, Mormugao and Cortalim have the highest number of TB patients receiving treatment at govt hospitals. As of July this year, 55 TB patients from Vasco and 56 from Cortalim were being treated for TB at govt hospitals. North Goa accounted for 52% of the TB patients undergoing treatment in govt hospitals, and South Goa 47.8% as of July.
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 >
The H3N2 flu virus subtype of Influenza A, has triggered a major epidemic throughout the entire Delhi-NCR region. The H3N2 flu virus has spread throughout Delhi and its surrounding areas of Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad, infecting a majority of local families. The H3N2 flu virus produces more severe symptoms than common colds, because it leads to longer illness periods and dangerous complications. Your health protection depends on recognising warning signs early, and receiving proper m ...Read More >
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charged five individuals, including goldy Brar, in relation to the 2024 Gurugram club bombing plot, as revealed in a recently filed chargesheet. This case involves a conspiracy to bomb two clubs, aiming to disrupt communal harmony in Haryana, with the banned terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) implicated. The NIA's investigation highlights the severity of the plot. Those charged include satinderjit Singh (Goldy Brar), Sachin Talian, Ankit, Bhavish, and Randeep Singh. News Directory 3 provides crucial updates on sensitive cases such ...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: 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, Jul 6 (PTI) The Puducherry administration has launched raids against private drug retailers flouting the ban on sale of anti-tuberculosis drugs in contravention of norms. The joint enforcement raids are being conducted by the State TB Cell in collaboration with the Department of Drugs Control. The Puducherry administration in alignment with the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) implemented the ban on the sale of anti-TB drugs by private chemists, Dr S Govindarajan, Mission Director of National Health Mission (NHM), Puducherry, told PTI. The move, initiated in 201 ...Read More >
Raichur (Karnataka) [India], August 14: In a landmark moment for global hepatology and Indian pharmaceutical innovation, Shilpa Medicare Limited (BSE: 530661) (NSE: SHILPAMED) has secured the world first regulatory approval from India Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for Nor Ursodeoxycholic Acid (NorUDCA) Tablets 500 mg, the first-ever approved therapy targeting NAFLD. * Shilpa Medicare emerges as the global pioneer to receive approval for NorUDCA, offering new hope to over a billion people affected by Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) * NAFLD affects 1 in 4 people ...Read More >
JAMMU: Not taking any chances with the health of eight patients from Badhaal village in J&K's Rajouri district who recently recovered from the "mystery illness" after being treated with atropine medication, Rajouri Government Medical College and Hospital authorities Tuesday delayed their discharge until the final report on the toxins they had ingested was made available by the central forensic laboratory. "As many as 11 patients are presently admitted at GMCH Rajouri and eight of them were to be discharged Tuesday, but authorities decided to keep them under observation," an official said. The ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Dietary approaches like intermittent energy restriction, time-restricted eating, and continuous energy restriction can all improve blood sugar levels and body weight in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes, according to a study. Although researchers identified improved HbA1c levels, and adverse events were similar across the three groups, the IER group showed greater advantages in reducing fasting blood glucose, improving insulin sensitivity, lowering triglycerides, and strengthening adherence to the dietary interventions. IER typically involves periods ...Read More >
Ahmedabad: Indian Institute of Public Health in Gandhinagar (IIPH-G) in collaboration with state-based endocrinologists will map the prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in Gujarat in a longitudinal study. The project, announced on Monday, will be a ten-year long study and will be one of the biggest to explore various aspects of the condition including comorbidities, mortality, and rural vs urban divide, among others.Dr Komal Shah, lead, NCD Advocacy and Research Collaboration (NCDArc) Centre at IIPH-G, said that a stakeholders' meeting was held on Monday with participation from state education and s ...Read More >
POONCH, June 29: To strengthen their campaign to aware the common populace about the ill effects of cardiovascular diseases, Head Department of Cardiology GMCH Jammu in collaboration with management of Gurudwara Sant Bhai Bahadur Singh Ji held a day long cardiac awareness cum health checkup camp at Dharamsal Khari Poonch. The camp was inaugurated by SSP Poonch Shafket Hussain, Dr Sushil Sharma along with ADC Tahir Mustafa, Harcharan Singh, Hardev Singh, Sunil Sharma (president Bar Association Poonch ) , Naresh Chander Raj (Ex Councillor MC), Mohinder Singh (Ex Councillor MC) and others promin ...Read More >
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 9 (ANI): More than half of all tuberculosis (TB) deaths occur within the first two months of treatment. In response, the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE) has introduced a new alert feature designed to immediately notify frontline healthcare workers when a patient is identified as severely ill following a TB diagnosis. Also Read | Delhi-NCR Rains: Waterlogging and Traffic Disruptions in Several Areas As Sudden Spell of Heavy Rain Batters National Capital; IMD Issues Red Alert (Watch Video). The predictive model ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], September 26 (ANI): India's pharmaceutical exports are not expected to face a major impact following the recent announcement of a 100 per cent tariff on branded and patented pharmaceutical products by the US, said Sudarshan Jain, General Secretary of the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA). Speaking to ANI on Friday, Jain said that India's exports to the US primarily consist of generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which are not covered under this tariff. "This [100 per cent tariff on imported pharmaceutical drugs] is applicable to patented branded p ...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 >
Patna (Bihar) [India], July 1 (ANI): Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Monday said that if the INDIA bloc comes to power in Bihar after the upcoming assembly elections, it will implement Rajasthan's health model in the state. Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Gehlot said, 'The health model we have created in Rajasthan cannot be compared to any other in the entire country. We have also enacted the 'Right to Health' law in Rajasthan, under which every family has been provided with insurance coverage. The Government of India's Ayushman Bharat schem ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) The Puducherry administration has launched raids against private drug retailers flouting the ban on sale of anti-tuberculosis drugs in contravention of norms. The joint enforcement raids are being conducted by the State TB Cell in collaboration with the Department of Drugs Control. The Puducherry administration in alignment with the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) implemented the ban on the sale of anti-TB drugs by private chemists, Dr S Govindarajan, Mission Director of National Health Mission (NHM), Puducherry, told PTI. The move, initiated in 201 ...Read More >
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): With 5,152 tuberculosis (TB) deaths reported in 2024, Madhya Pradesh ranks third in the country in terms of TB-related fatalities. Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 14,229 deaths, followed by Maharashtra with 6,069, according to a reply from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in Parliament. The ministry has set a target to make all states TB-free by 2025. The state government has launched a comprehensive drive to identify and diagnose TB patients. The NIKSHAY - TB Notification Incentive scheme, launched by MoHFW, incentivizes private healthcare provi ...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 >
Kerala has reported 104 cases of amoebic encephalitis, with 23 deaths, primarily in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts. The state health minister highlighted that early detection and treatment have significantly reduced the global fatality rate of this rare brain infection. An action plan based on the One Health approach is being implemented to prevent further cases. A total of 104 cases of amoebic encephalitis (brain fever) have been reported so far in Kerala, of which 23 patients have die ...Read More >
NewsVoir 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 medica ...Read More >
Saveetha Medical College & Hospital collaborates with Apollo Hospitals to offer affordable liver transplants in India. This alliance brings world-class care at reduced costs, making life-saving surgeries accessible to all. The partnership combines Apollo's medical expertise with Saveetha's social mission, transforming healthcare accessibility nationwide. In a landmark agreement poised to transform the landscape of affordable tertiary healthcare in India, Saveetha Medical College & Hospital has p ...Read More >
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 7 (ANI): Union Health Minister JP Nadda has called for a unified effort from the government, industry, academia, and citizens to promote safe and healthy eating practices across the country, particularly among children. Speaking during the launch of 'Stop Obesity by Eating Safe and Healthy' initiative on World Food Safety Day 2025 at NIMHANS in Karnataka's Bengaluru, Nadda underscored the importance of food safety and nutrition. He announced a new government initiative within the NCERT curriculum aimed at educating students about healthy dietary habits. 'I ...Read More >
Lucknow: Liver fibrosis can increase the risk of cancers like colorectal, breast, and prostate by 3 to 4 times, warned Prof Gaurav Pandey from the department of gastroenterology, SGPGIMS. He spoke at a health talk titled "Fatty Liver - the Silent Epidemic" organised by the Club of Lucknow on Sunday. The event began with an address by chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh.Prof Pandey said fatty liver disease, now called MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease), is often silent in the early stages and usually detected by chance. The liver, which weighs about 1.5 kg, processes ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: BRS president and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was admitted to Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda on Thursday evening after he complained of weakness. According to a statement issued by the Yashoda Hospitals, KCR underwent medical tests. "Preliminary investigations revealed high blood sugar levels and low sodium levels. All other vital parameters are within normal limits. He is under close observation, and medications have been initiated to control his diabetes and correct the sodium imbalance. His condition is stable," the health bulletin issued by the hospital said. Mea ...Read More >
Hyderabad, Jul 4 (PTI) BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao was admitted to hospital for a routine health check-up and there are no serious health concerns, his son and BRS Working President K T Rama Rao said on Friday. The doctors have advised the former chief minister to be in hospital for a few days to monitor his blood sugar and low sodium levels, Rao said. "No serious health concerns at all. All his vitals are normal. I thank all those who have been enquiring about his wellbeing," he said in a post on 'X'. Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar and AIMIM president Asaduddin ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): In a major boost to the TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, the Centre will soon procure nearly 1,500 more handheld X-ray machines to facilitate large-scale screening and early detection of Tuberculosis (TB) cases, according to a government source. Currently, around 500 such portable X-ray devices are deployed at screening centers across the country. 'We started TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan with 347 districts, and now all districts are running this campaign after seeing the micro strategies and achievements. They are all participating in training and other programs. These por ...Read More >
Raichur (Karnataka) [India], August 14: In a landmark moment for global hepatology and Indian pharmaceutical innovation, Shilpa Medicare Limited (BSE: 530661) (NSE: SHILPAMED) has secured the world's first regulatory approval from India's Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) for Nor Ursodeoxycholic Acid (NorUDCA) Tablets 500 mg, the first-ever approved therapy targeting NAFLD. Also Read | 'Coolie' X Review: Rajinikanth's 'One-Man Show' With Nagarjuna's Stylish Act and Anirudh Ravichander's BGM Redeems Lokesh Kanagaraj's Massy Thriller, Say Netizens. * Shilpa Medicare emerges a ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], August 25 (ANI): India's contract research, development, and manufacturing organisation (CRDMO) sector is emerging as one of the most dynamic growth stories in the global pharmaceutical landscape. According to a recent Jefferies India report, the country's CRDMO, which has already reached revenues of around USD 3 billion, has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14 per cent over the past five years. The report highlights that India's CRDMO industry has caught the attention of global investors, with its market capitalization now standing at USD 40-50 billion. Whi ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], September 30 (ANI): The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has approved Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk's once-a-week injection for patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes. Also Read | Durga Puja 2025: PM Narendra Modi Participates in Durga Puja Celebrations in Delhi's CR Park on Occasion of Maha Ashtami, Prays for Everyone's Happiness and Wellbeing (See Pics). In a statement provided to ANI, Novo Nordisk has stated that Ozempic is intended for individuals with Type 2 diabetes and will be available only upon a doctor's prescription. "Ozempic is meant for pe ...Read More >
Srinagar, June 28: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today chaired a high-level meeting with members of civil society organisations, religious leaders, elected representatives, and representatives from the trade and business communities to review arrangements for the upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. Among those present were Chief Minister Omar Abdullah; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; Special Director General (Coordination) S.J.M. Gillani; Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor and CEO of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari; Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Bidhuri; ...Read More >