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.
CHENNAI: Residents across the newly-formed Tambaram Municipal Corporation are facing an unprecedented surge in mosquito infestations, leading to sleepless nights and a rising fear of vector-borne diseases like dengue. The problem, described as the worst in recent memory, is rampant throughout the corporation, with Zone 4 (Wards 55 to 61) and areas like Chrompet, Pallavaram, Sembaikuppam, Pammal, Anagaputhur, Thiruneermalai, Perungulathur, and Peerkankaranai being particularly affected. The primary cause for the mosquito boom is identified as widespread public negligence and alleged civic inaction. Vacant plots filled with stagnant sewage water, overgrown with weeds, have become perfect breeding grounds. Compounding the issue is the irregular collection of garbage and overflowing sewage on the streets. "The situation has only worsened since our municipalities were merged to form the corporation," said Mahendra Bhoopathy, president of the Perungulathur and Peerkankaranai Residents' Welfare Associations. "Taxes have multiplied, but basic amenities have not. There is no regular fogging or spraying of mosquito repellents. When they occasionally do it, the chemicals seem ineffective and substandard." The mosquito onslaught is no longer just a nuisance but a public health emergency. Residents report a rapid spread of viral fevers, with over 50 people in Zone 4 alone suspected to have contracted dengue, some of which have been medically confirmed. Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable. In a desperate attempt to protect themselves, citizens are resorting to heavy use of mosquito repellent coils and mats. However, the smoke from these devices is causing respiratory issues, especially for those with pre-existing conditions like asthma. While residents allege that preventive fogging has completely stopped since the upgrade to a municipal corporation, officials claim otherwise. When contacted, Tambaram Municipal Corporation officials stated that measures are being taken to control the mosquito population. They insisted that fogging and spraying operations are ongoing. Acknowledging the infrastructure deficit, an official said, "A comprehensive new plan is being prepared to implement underground drainage systems in areas that lack them. Once this is executed, the mosquito problem will be significantly reduced." They also downplayed the severity of the dengue outbreak, calling the cases "seasonal viral fevers" and claiming they have no official information about a dengue spread. However, for the residents spending their nights swatting mosquitoes and their days worrying about their family's health, the corporation's promises offer little comfort. They demand immediate, visible action to clear garbage, stem the sewage flow, and conduct intensive fogging drives before the situation spirals further out of control.
Belagavi: With monsoon rainfall intensifying, the health department in Belagavi district has ramped up preventive efforts to control the spread of dengue, particularly in the critical month of July, when water saturation increases the risk of mosquito breeding.While the number of dengue cases remained under control in June, health officials are on alert for a potential surge. According to district health officer (DHO) Dr SS Gadad, the department identified around 1,300 suspected cases of dengue-related symptoms in June. Of these, 620 samples were collected for testing, with only 21 confirmed p ...Read More >
Navi Mumbai: In a major public health initiative, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has intensified its efforts to curb mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue by organizing a series of public awareness and prevention camps. A total of 286 camps were conducted across the NMMC jurisdiction, drawing the participation of 1,12,887 citizens, with 6,666 blood samples collected for testing. On July 10, the latest round of camps saw 11,312 residents attend, where they were given practical demonstrations of mosquito larvae and shown how breeding typically occurs in stagnant clea ...Read More >
GURGAON: The investigation into the murder of a 25-year-old former international tennis player, allegedly by her father, has revealed a sudden deterioration in their relationship. The apparent reason was a disagreement over the academy she ran near their house, but the roots clearly run deeper. The father, who claims to have spent Rs 2 crore on his daughter's tennis career, told interrogators he was troubled by questions about her "character" that some of his associates had raised.Deepak Yadav, who shot Radhika at their house Thursday morning, had allegedly been insisting for two weeks on her ...Read More >
Bengaluru: Bengaluru has witnessed a marked decline in dengue cases this year, with infections falling to less than half of those recorded during the same period in 2024. Health officials attribute the encouraging trend to intensified mosquito control efforts, increased community engagement, and heightened awareness campaigns. Data from the health division of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) reveals that between January 1 and June 4 2025, the city logged 824 dengue cases, a 48.1 per cent drop from the 1,712 infections reported during the same period last year. The decline has be ...Read More >
Mumbai: To bring discipline to urban traffic and avoid unnecessary congestion on roads, the Urban Development Department must amend its policy to strengthen the parking system, said Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. He emphasized the importance of introducing an integrated parking system in metropolitan cities. Minister Sarnaik was speaking at a meeting of municipal commissioners from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), held at Mantralaya. The meeting included officials such as Additional Secretary of the Transport Department Sanjay Sethi, Additional Secretary of the Urban Deve ...Read More >
Panaji: With extensive source reduction drives, house-to-house visits and tracking of fever cases, Goa has seen only 10 confirmed cases of dengue in June this year as against 60 confirmed cases in the same month of last year. "All 10 cases have been reported in North Goa, while not a single case has been reported in South Goa," said Dr Kalpana Mahatme, state programme officer and deputy director of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme. Of the 10 cases, six cases are in Mapusa, while one each is in Candolim, Aldona, Siolim and Porvorim. "The cases reported in Mapusa are mainly ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: The announcement by chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi to upgrade Puri municipality into a municipal corporation and revamp the tourist infrastructure marks a crucial turning point for Odisha's premier tourist destination. This long-overdue development comes at a time when the holy city faces increasing competition from emerging tourist destinations.Despite being one of Hinduism's char dhams and home to the revered Jagannath Temple, Puri's tourism infrastructure remained largely underdeveloped. As CM Majhi himself pointed out, visitors to Puri currently have limited options, primar ...Read More >
MALAPPURAM: Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Sunday said that there are 383 people in the contact lists of the two persons infected with the Nipah virus in the state. Of those on the contact list, 12 people are under treatment in Malappuram district with five in the ICU and four are being treated in isolation in Palakkad district, the minister said in a statement after chairing a high-level meeting. The recent death of an 18-year-old girl in Malappuram district was confirmed as Nipah infection, while a 38-year-old woman from Thachanattukara in Palakkad district also tested positive for ...Read More >
KOZHIKODE: A woman from Palakkad who recently tested positive for Nipah virus, remains in critical condition at the Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital. She is currently receiving critical care in the hospital's specialised Nipah isolation unit. The patient was initially admitted to a private medical facility in Perinthalmanna. However, late on Saturday night, due to a significant deterioration in her health, she was transferred to the Kozhikode Medical College. Her symptoms, consistent with a severe viral infection, first appeared on July 1, prompting her to seek medical attention. ...Read More >
New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi's public health department has launched an intensive drive to check mosquito breeding at historical sites and tourist places in the city. At least 55 such places were checked in the past few days and mosquito breeding was found at 16 sites, which were destroyed on the spot, MCD stated. The department claimed to have visited Humayun's Tomb, Delhi zoo, Qutub Minar complex, Lotus Pond, Sunder Nagar Nursery, etc. While 16 violators were served notices, prosecution was launched against six of them, MCD stated. Such places have vast green areas, which increa ...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 >
Guwahati: State is witnessing a concerning surge in Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases, with Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) reporting 47 confirmed infections so far. The mosquito-borne viral disease has already claimed 13 lives across the state. Data provided by GMCH authorities shows that JE cases began emerging in April, with the first fatalities reported in June. While six patients have recovered and been discharged, three left the hospital against medical advice and several others are still undergoing treatment. The infection has been detected across several districts -- Kamrup ...Read More >
Mumbai: Maharashtra recorded 12 new COVID-19 cases and one death in the past 24 hours, the state's Public Health Department said on Saturday. A 76-year-old woman from Kolhapur district, who had underlying health conditions, succumbed to the infection after reporting fever and shortness of breath. This takes the state's COVID-19 death toll for 2025 to 41. According to the health department, the fresh cases reported on July 5 include four from Pune, two from Mumbai, and one each from Thane, Navi Mumbai, Gadchiroli and Kolhapur, along with two from Nagpur. Mumbai's COVID-19 tally now stands at ...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 >
Guwahati: In a major scientific achievement on public health front, research scholars at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have developed an innovative, low-cost method to detect SARS-CoV-2 -- the virus responsible for COVID-19 -- using nothing more than a type of clay and saltwater. This innovative mechanism, which uses sedimentation to determine the presence and quantity of the virus, offers a simpler and more affordable alternative to current diagnostic methods such as PCR and antigen testing. The study, recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Applied Clay Science, could ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
Gurgaon: The state health department has recorded 62 confirmed cases of dengue till June end. However, Gurgaon hasn't recorded any cases so far even as dengue hotspots have been mapped out. Rewari has emerged as the most affected district with 14 cases, followed by Karnal with eight, Panchkula with seven and Kaithal and Faridabad with four each. While the state numbers are lower than in previous years, authorities remain vigilant to prevent a post-monsoon surge. Thirty-one cases of malaria and 10 cases of chikungunya were also recorded during the same period.In Gurgaon, the health department h ...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 >
Bhubaneswar: Aiming to transform Puri into a world-class religious tourism destination and provide better amenities for residents, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday unveiled plans for a comprehensive infrastructure upgrade of the pilgrim town. Elevating Puri from municipality to a municipal corporation, Majhi announced a world-class Shri Jagannath Museum, library and research centre in the beach town, which has a population of around 4 lakh.Coinciding with the ongoing nine-day Rath Yatra festival, Majhi emphasised the need to enhance Puri's appeal beyond its iconic Jagannath Temple a ...Read More >
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 5 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said that the state government is prioritising quality education for students, and quality teachers are being recruited through the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). Saha also informed that more recruitments will be made in the future. Also Read | Centre Notifies Waqf Management Rules 2025; Portal, Database, Audit of Waqf Properties. "Textbook education can never be the standard of life. One can become morally strong through education. Along with education, children should also be engaged in social work," he said. CM ...Read More >
Guwahati, July 6: The outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Assam has taken a worrying turn, with the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) reporting 13 deaths linked to the disease in the past three months. According to hospital authorities, a total of 57 encephalitis patients have been admitted to GMCH during this period. As of Friday, 47 patients are currently undergoing treatment at the hospital. In the past 24 hours alone, GMCH admitted 10 new JE cases, indicating a sharp surge in infections. However, there is some relief as 10 patients have successfully recovered and been dis ...Read More >
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], June 7 (ANI): Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel on Saturday noted that the state is fully prepared for COVID-19, with all arrangements including beds, ventilators, and ICU facilities in place, adding that the current Omicron variant is not very serious and does not seem to cause significant harm or death. Speaking to reporters, Minister Rushikesh Patel said, 'This Omicron virus is a virus of the Covid family, but it is not so serious. Varieties of this virus do not seem to cause any harm or death. But we have made all our arrangements, all beds, ventilators, ...Read More >
Vijayawada, July 6 (UNI) The Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department of Andhra Pradesh government is launching a focused 'smart Mosquito control' programme using Deep Technology to check vector- borne diseases. The Artificial Intelligence-powered Smart Mosquito Surveillance System (SMoSS) will be launched on a pilot basis at 66 locations in six major municipal corporations in the state. SMoSS will primarily safeguard public health by curbing the dreaded mosquito menace and, it will also reduce operational burden on civic staff and cut costs of Urban Local Bodies. Th ...Read More >
Hyderabad, July 7 (Maxim News): In light of the increasing risk of dengue and seasonal diseases, the Telangana Health Department has urged citizens across the state to observe 'Friday Dry Day' -- a weekly initiative to eliminate stagnant water in and around homes, offices, and public spaces. With the arrival of monsoon, conditions are now ideal for the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes, the primary vector of dengue. The health authorities have called on the public to proactively prevent mosquito breeding by ensuring there is no water accumulation in containers, flower pots, air coolers, or any ope ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >
New Delhi: India's active Covid-19 cases have seen another surge, with the number nearing the 6000 mark. According to the Union Health Ministry's data, the country has reported 391 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the total active cases to 5755 now. As per the Health Ministry's data, four people have died due to Covid-related infection in the past 24 hours. Among the deceased was a 45-year-old pregnant woman in Maharashtra, who was hospitalised and later tested positive for Covid-19. In Kerala, a 59-year-old man with lung cancer succumbed to the virus-related issue. The other t ...Read More >
Pune: Hospitals in Pune have started reporting an increase in dengue cases among children following recent heavy rainfall and intermittent showers. Conditions are now ripe for mosquito breeding, experts said, as they warned citizens to ensure there's no waterlogging or stagnant pools near homes and offices. "Dengue is typically seen first in children as they often play outside," said Dr Sagar Lad, a senior neonatologist and pediatric intensivist at Jehangir Hospital and Sahyadri Hospital, Shastrinagar. Dr Lad said he's seen at least three children admitted for dengue this week, with all of the ...Read More >
Gurgaon: MCG additional commissioner Yash Jaluka directed bulk waste generators (BWG) across the city to ensure proper disposal of waste by private agencies who are assisting them. Giving these instructions in a meeting held on Friday, he said it is often observed that BWGs hand over their waste to private agencies, which only sort valuable items and dump the remaining waste on roads, drains, vacant land or public places. This, he said, not only affects cleanliness of the city but also poses a threat to public health."Under the Solid Waste Management Rules-2016, it is the legal and moral respo ...Read More >
Mumbai: Senior BJP leader Ravindra Chavan is all set to become the next Maharashtra BJP chief as he filed his nomination for the post of party's state president on Monday. Mr. Chavan presented the nomination forms to Union Minister Kiran Rijiju, who has been appointed as a central observer for the elections by the BJP. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and outgoing party chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule were present on this occasion. With no other nomination being filed for the post, Mr. Chavan is certain to become the next state president of Maharashtra BJP, said party leaders. The ...Read More >