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.
Lucknow: This Diwali, residents of the city were exposed to decibel levels equivalent to noise made by a food blender switched on for hours. On Diwali night, noise levels exceeded standards at all sites, with highest value of 89.3 decibels (dB(A)) at Vikasnagar and the lowest of 75.8 dB (A) at Chowk on Diwali night, stated Indian Institute of Toxicology Research's air and noise quality assessment report for Lucknow during Diwali 2025, released on Thursday.Compared to the day before Diwali, noise levels at all four locations monitored by IITR increased by more than 15 units. After Vikasnagar, Aliganj was second noisiest with 81.6 dB(A), followed by Aminabad at 80.1 dB(A) and Chowk at 85.6 dB(A)."Firecrackers with noise levels greater than 80 dB(A) may damage eardrum and reduce our hearing ability. High noise can induce temporary or permanent hearing impairment. Crackers may also trigger problems like annoyance, irritation, hypertension, stress, hearing loss, headache, sleep disturbance and respiratory problems such as allergic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, sinusitis, rhinitis and laryngitis," said the IITR study.It further explained that permissible limit during the day was 55 decibels and 45 decibels during the night, while in commercial areas, the limit during day was 65 decibels and 55 decibels during night. Noise levels during Diwali night exceeded these limits by 10 to 25 units.
Visakhapatnam: As Diwali approaches, the narrow lanes of Kummari Veedhi in Visakhapatnam's Akkayyapalem area come alive with traditional diya-making. Here, artisans, including 93-year-old Pardes from Srikakulam, continue the age-old craft despite declining sales caused by machine-made alternatives. Additionally, local NGOs are empowering especially abled individuals and children to join the festive production, creating new opportunities to continue the city's pottery heritage. "I am 93 and will be 94 this year. I make 100 to 150 diyas a day, working from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. My son helps me in t ...Read More >
Hyderabad: As part of a 170-year-old tradition, tens of thousands of devotees assembled at the Nampally Exhibition Grounds on Sunday to receive the famous fish prasadam on the occasion of Mrigasira Karte. This annual ritual is said to offer relief from respiratory ailments like asthma and bronchitis.The event, which began at 11 am, was inaugurated by transport minister Ponnam Prabhakar. "For 170 years, the Bathini family has been providing fish prasadam to lakhs. What began in Doodh Bowli has now evolved into a massive event," he said.The state's fisheries department reported over 50,000 token ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 16 (ANI): Delhi is choking, yet I remain surprised by the ignorance of many Delhiites who roam around as if they are breathing the fresh air of Switzerland. This is where a solid air purifier comes in as a saviour, allowing you to finally breathe fresh air (at least indoors). Eureka Forbes is mostly known for its water purifiers, but keeping the brand value in mind, I opted to try one of their air purifiers.The Eureka Forbes AP 355 Smart is designed to take care of your living room. It promises to scrub the air in a large space (up to 480 sq. ft.) in just 10 minutes ...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 >
Hyderabad: CuraTeQ Biologics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aurobindo Pharma, on Monday said it has reported positive top-line Phase 3 results for BP11, its investigational biosimilar to Xolair, or omalizumab.CuraTeQ said the study met all primary endpoints in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria receiving the 300 mg dose, demonstrating high comparability with the reference product. The company said it plans to use the results to support regulatory submissions for chronic spontaneous urtica ...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 >
PRNewswire Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], December 13: Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited, the first standalone health insurance company in India, today announced the launch of its revolutionary retail health insurance product, 'SUPER STAR'. This innovative policy offers a long-term policy for the retail health segment, combining advanced features and highly customisable covers to address the growing complexities of modern lifestyles, rising medical expenses, and unforeseen emergencies. * Offers a long-term policy and unparalleled, highly customisable solutions for evolving heal ...Read More >
Ahmedabad: More than half of the total Covid-positive cases in Gujarat -- over 700 identified so far -- were recorded in the 25 to 50 years age group, or the 'working age group', state health department officials have said. About 10% of the cases were among infants under one year of age, according to govt data. Officials also said that the number of senior citizens in recent cases is relatively very low. Health experts pointed out that three patients who died of Covid -- all from Ahmedabad -- were women aged 18, 20 and 47 years. "No definite pattern is emerging yet, as cases are under control ...Read More >
DHARMAPURI: For the third time in the past two months, a wild leopard wandered into a private farmland near Valaithottam village near Palacode and hunted chicken raised by a local farmer. Locals are increasingly distressed and urged the forest department to take steps to relocate the leopard. Over the past few months, there have been several reports of leopard sightings in forest areas near Palacode, particularly in Valaithottam village, near the forest's fringe. There have been two instances when the leopard attacked farmlands, taking away a domestic dog and a chicken. On Saturday, the leop ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: A thick blanket of smog engulfed Bhubaneswar following Diwali celebrations as the air quality levels plummeted last evening, reducing visibility to 500 metres by 9.30 pm. The air quality in the city plunged into the "severe" category, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 657 at 7 pm. According to CPCB, the AQI in the state capital was at a 'satisfactory' 54 at 4 pm. Areas like Rasulgarh, Baramunda and Patia were covered with firecracker smoke and rising particulates, making it difficult for commuters to drive safely as visibility on roads dropped to barely 20 metre ...Read More >
Gurgaon: For a brief moment on Thursday, city residents could breathe a little easier. The city's average air quality index (AQI) dropped to 208, down from 281 the previous day, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).The improvement, however, is only a temporary reprieve. The air will remain in the 'poor' category -- still dangerous for children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory issues.Officials said the short-lived relief was due to stronger surface winds and clearer skies, which helped disperse some of the lingering pollutants. However, meteorologists warned that thi ...Read More >
Guwahati: The Singapore Police Force has formally concluded its investigation into the death of Assamese singer Zubeen Garg, ruling out any foul play and confirming that the incident was an accidental drowning. According to official findings, the incident took place on September 19, 2025, during a private yacht outing near Lazarus Island. Garg had initially entered the water wearing a life jacket but later removed it after returning to the yacht. He subsequently went back into the water alone and without a life jacket, despite being offered one. While attempting to swim back, he became unresp ...Read More >
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 18 (MExN): The Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, has issued an advisory cautioning citizens against the use of banned firecrackers during the upcoming festive season and appealed to all residents to celebrate in an eco-friendly and responsible manner. The advisory stated that bursting of firecrackers is not only environmentally hazardous but also causes significant stress, fear, and other health-related issues in both humans and animals due to loud explosions and toxic gases. As per the guidelines, fireworks will be permitted strictly between 8 PM and 10 PM on Diwali and othe ...Read More >
New Delhi, October 21: A day after Diwali, the national capital city New Delhi woke up to thick and heavy layer of smog as the air quality deteriorated to the 'Very Poor' category on Tuesday morning, with most of the monitoring stations marked in the 'Red Zone' of pollution. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi stood at 350 as of 8 am today. As per the CPCB, Bawana recorded AQI of 423 as of 8 am, Jahangirpuri had an AQI of 407 and Wazirpur with an AQI 408 remains the worst hit areas with air quality falling under 'Severe' catego ...Read More >
Despite unseasonal rainfall, pollution levels refuse to drop with BKC, Malad, Deonar, all in the 'very poor' AQI category The festive fervour in Mumbai on Tuesday was marred by excessive pollution and smoggy air. As the Diwali festivities continued, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) plunged deeper into the 'very poor' zone, with thick smog settling over key neighbourhoods stretching from Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to Byculla and Malad. Despite the unseasonal showers across the city in the even ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two days after Diwali, the air in Delhi and its neighbouring cities turned dangerously toxic, with the national capital recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 353, placing it firmly in the 'Very Poor' category. According to the latest Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) bulletin issued at 4 p.m. on Wednesday (October 22), Delhi's air was laden with PM2.5 particles -- the most harmful pollutant for human lungs. The situation was even more alarming in satellite towns. Dharuhera (379), Rohtak (349), Noida (330), Bhiwani (331), Narnaul (332), and Ghaziabad ...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 >
Nagpur: Eminent neurologists from the city joined experts from across the globe on World Brain Tumour Day to raise awareness about the disease.At an event held at the Indian Medical Association (IMA) headquarters in Nagpur, specialists emphasised the importance of early diagnosis, discussed symptoms and treatment options, and highlighted the multifaceted challenges faced by patients and their families.Renowned neurologist and Padma Shri Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram stressed the need for timely detection and comprehensive care. He said awareness about the type of brain tumour and its symptoms is c ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: In a major crackdown against food adulteration ahead of the festive season, Delhi Police has recovered over 6,800 units of adulterated desi ghee and sweets, arresting 25 individuals in six separate raids conducted across the city this month. According to a senior police officer, the raids were carried out based on tip-offs regarding the sale and production of adulterated food products, which tend to spike during festivals. "These actions are crucial as they directly concern public health. The raids are aimed at preventing harmful and spurious products from reaching consumers," the ...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 >
Ahmedabad: Ahead of Diwali festival, the city police on Tuesday issued a notification with regard to the sale and use of only green firecrackers within Ahmedabad limits from Oct 19 to Nov 5. The order, signed by police commissioner G S Malik under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and provisions of the Gujarat Police Act, follows Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal directives aimed at reducing air and noise pollution.The order states that only firecrackers certif ...Read More >
New Delhi: Big player of politics and former CM of Jharkhand Shibu Soren passed away. He breathed his last at the age of 81. He was admitted to a hospital in the capital, Delhi, after his health deteriorated. He had a kidney infection. He was also diagnosed with bronchitis. This became the main reason for his death. This information has been given by Dr. AK Bhalla, Chairman of the Nephrology Department at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. According to Dr. AK Bhalla, due to old age and bypass surgery, recovery was taking time. He was also diabetic. He had kidney and lung disease for a long time. Recent ...Read More >
Mumbai: Even as Muslim leaders accused former BJP Member of Parliament Kirit Somaiya of pressuring the police to take penal action against mosques that use loudspeakers to broadcast azaans, or the call to prayer, Somaiya said on Thursday that the police have removed more than 1,500 illegal loudspeakers in the last three months. "We initiated campaign after Mumbai High Court issued directives about use of such speakers, loudspeakers and noise pollution. 99% masjids/trustees have never obtained, applied for loudspeakers permission till High Court order," Somaiya said on Thursday in a statement ...Read More >
Every October, as the festive season lights up homes across India, the skies above Delhi-NCR turn grey with smog. This year, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has already crossed the 'very poor' mark in several areas, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). PM2.5 levels in the city are currently hovering around 250-300 ug/m3, nearly five times the safe limit prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). While stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and low wind speed are key contrib ...Read More >
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], October 21: Diwali is the season of lights, celebrations, and home makeovers. What better way to elevate your festive mood than by gifting your family cleaner, fresher air? As air quality dips during the festive season, a high-performance air purifier can ensure your home stays healthy and comfortable. Also Read | Online Trading Scam in Mumbai: Fraudsters Dupe 83-Year-Old Cancer Patient of INR 82 Lakh via Fake Government-Endorsed 'Finadexa' Website in Chembur; Wife Files Complaint After Husband's Death. This Diwali, Bajaj Finserv is making it easier than ever to b ...Read More >
New Delhi, Oct 21: Delhi's air quality was in the "very poor" category on Tuesday, a day after Diwali, with Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) II norms already in force. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi stood at 351 as of 4 pm today. Bawana recorded an AQI of 424 and remains the only area with air quality that falls under the 'severe' category. AQI in Anand Vihar stood at 332, Ashok Vihar 373, Burari Crossing 388, IGI Airport (Terminal 3) 295, ITO 349, Lodhi Road 334, Mundka 380, Najafgarh 312, Narela 363, Patparganj 320 an ...Read More >
Panchkula: Panchkula's air quality remained "poor" even three days after Diwali, though there was a slight improvement in AQI.According to the Central Pollution Control Board's data, the average of the past 24 hours of the AQI on Thursday at 4pm was 251. It was 268 on Wednesday, falling in the same "poor" category. An AQI in the range of 201-300 comes under the poor category.Its possible health impact is "breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure." With no forecast of rain for the next few days, it is expected to take some time for air quality to improve. When the AQI touches a ...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. According to Dr Manav Manchanda, Director and Head of Respiratory, Critical Ca ...Read More >