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.
Greater Noida : In a significant milestone toward making advanced healthcare accessible to all, Sharda Hospital has successfully performed the first kidney transplant under the Ayushman Bharat scheme in Greater Noida. This achievement offers renewed hope to patients who are often unable to afford complex, life-saving procedures. The recipient, a 32 year-old young male diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), had limited treatment options due to financial constraints. His condition initially developed during treatment for hypertension and progressively worsened despite regular hemodialysis, a procedure that removes waste and excess fluids when kidney function declines. Despite undergoing dialysis through a surgically created fistula, the patient continued to experience persistent symptoms, including severe headaches. Further investigations revealed significantly elevated blood pressure and abnormal renal parameters, confirming advanced-stage CKD. With mounting health concerns and financial limitations, the patient sought support under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Addressing this critical need, Sharda Hospital stepped forward to bridge the gap, becoming the first in the region to successfully conduct a kidney transplant under the government initiative. A comprehensive pre-transplant evaluation, including HLA testing, identified the patient's father as a suitable donor. The transplant was successfully performed by the hospital's multidisciplinary team, ensuring optimal clinical outcomes. Notably, the entire cost of the procedure -- including surgery, hospitalization, and post-operative care -- was fully covered under Ayushman Bharat, eliminating financial burden on the patient and his family. Following the surgery, the patient has shown excellent recovery. His kidney function and overall physical and mental health have returned to normal levels. He is now socially and economically stable, has secured employment, and looks forward to building a fulfilling personal life. This case highlights the critical role of timely kidney transplantation in managing end-stage renal disease and serves as a powerful example of how appropriate medical intervention, combined with financial support, can transform lives. Expert Speak Dr. Bheem Raj Gupta, Director & Unit Head of Nephrology, Sharda Hospital, stated: "While dialysis is a vital life-support system, a successful kidney transplant remains the 'gold standard' for treating end-stage renal disease, offering patients a significantly better quality of life and long-term survival. In such cases, regular dialysis impose a lot of limitations to daily life of patient and the quality of life gets compromised. By performing this transplant under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, we have not only transplanted a well functioning kidney but also restored a young man's ability to lead a productive, dialysis-free life. We are committed to ensuring that such high-end clinical interventions are no longer a privilege of the few, but a reality for every deserving patient." Dr. Shilpi Tiwari, Senior Consultant, Urology, Sharda Hospital, said: "This case is not just a clinical milestone but a testament to what accessible healthcare can achieve. We are witnessing a concerning rise in kidney disease among younger individuals. Studies suggest that nearly 17% of the population is affected by chronic kidney disease, with increasing cases among those under 40, largely driven by uncontrolled hypertension, diabetes, sedentary lifestyles, and poor dietary habits. One of the major challenges is late diagnosis, often when patients already require dialysis or transplantation. While kidney transplants are life-saving, they are frequently inaccessible due to high costs. Through Ayushman Bharat, we were able to provide this young patient with timely, life-saving treatment without financial stress." Dr. Kousar Shah, Group CEO, Sharda Hospital & ShardaCare-Healthcity, added: "At Sharda Hospital, we believe that quality healthcare should be accessible to every individual, regardless of their financial background. Successfully performing a kidney transplant under Ayushman Bharat demonstrates how public healthcare initiatives, when effectively implemented, can bridge critical gaps in access to advanced treatment. We remain committed to supporting the Government of India's vision of inclusive and equitable healthcare."
The Cure SMA Foundation of India has praised the government’s recent efforts to address rare diseases, including Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), with over Rs 900 crore allocated for treatment procurement. The foundation urges swift action to implement the procurement process within 45 days, following the Delhi High Court’s directive. SMA, a life-threatening genetic disease, has limited treatment access in India. While the drug Risdiplam has brought hope, collaborative efforts are needed to ensure wider availability. Experts stress the importance of a holistic approach to SMA care, citing Kerala ...Read More >
Jaipur: The 23-year-old patient who received the heart, kidney and lungs of a brain-dead patient -- that were airlifted in the first such instance of organ transport in Rajasthan -- died on Tuesday late night at the SMS Hospital here. The hospital's senior doctor and spokesperson Dr Manish Agarwal said the complicated surgery was successful. Doctors tried hard to save the woman, but could not succeed, after which the patient died. The organs were airlifted for the first time in Rajasthan. The heart, kidney and lungs of Vishnu Prasad, a brain-dead youth in Jhalawar, were transported to Jaipur ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 27 (PTI) No COVID-19 case was reported in Mumbai on Friday, the feat achieved for the first time in about two months, the metropolis' civic body said. In a release, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation also said no new or concerning variant of the virus has been detected in the city as per the Whole Genome Sequencing Report. Mumbai recorded six COVID-19 cases between January and April this year, before a surge in May saw the detection of 435 cases, while the figure for June stood at 539, the release informed. As on Friday, there are 62 active COVID-19 cases in the city, though ...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 >
Patna: Nephrologist Dr Hemant Kumar, who served in the field of health, was nominated for the Padma Shri on the eve of Republic Day. In an interview with TOI's Sheezan Nezami, Dr Kumar talks about his journey, inspiration and his future plans. Excerpts: Congratulations on making it to the list of Padma Shri. How are you feeling and what about the celebration? My family, everyone associated with me, and I are very happy. I was awarded for my social work and my model of working, which focused on kidney diseases and primarily on its prevention. Can you share your journey in brief? What inspire ...Read More >
Aizawl, June 2 (SocialNews.XYZ) All the government and private schools in Mizoram remained closed on Monday due to heavy rains that triggered landslides, rockfalls, and waterlogging in different parts of the mountainous state, officials said. A senior official of the School Education Department said that Deputy Commissioners of all 11 districts issued separate notifications closing the schools on Monday as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the students. After the beginning of the current spell of heavy rain, earlier, schools were closed across the state for two days on May 29 a ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Fintech firm BimaPay Finsure on Thursday said it has entered into corporate insurance financing and aims for Rs 20 crore in premiums in 2025-26. Launching the pilot phase with insurance partners, BimaPay said the initiative will allow businesses to pay premiums in easy equated monthly instalments (EMIs) instead of bearing the burden of full upfront costs. Also Read | Who Is Pinaki Misra? From Age to Family Background and Net Worth, Here's All About BJD Leader With Whom Mahua Moitra Reportedly Married. The company aims to finance over Rs 20 crore worth of premiums by t ...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, June 8 (UNI) Active Covid-19 cases in India have crossed the 6,000 mark following a surge of nearly 400 new infections reported in the past 24 hours. The country also recorded six Covid-related deaths during this period, with three fatalities reported from Kerala, as per the data available from the Union Health Ministry. As of now, India has 6,133 active cases and a cumulative death toll of 65. Kerala continues to report the highest number of active infections, nearing the 2,000 mark, making it the state with the largest current caseload. In the last 24 hours, 378 new cases were r ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 8 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emphasised that women's empowerment is vital to India's growth, highlighting a shift in societal perspective where women are no longer limited to traditional roles. Instead, they are recognised as key drivers of progress, contributing significantly to the nation's development. The BJP-led NDA government at the centre released a book highlighting its achievements in empowering women over the last 11 years. As the NDA completes its 11 years in government, the book highlights various key schemes, such as Beti Bachao Beti Pa ...Read More >
Chennai, Dec 10 (PTI) Standalone health insurance company Star Health Insurance has targeted doubling its business in Tamil Nadu over the next four years, a top official said. As part of its growth strategy, the company plans to add 12,000 new agents across Tamil Nadu and expand its footprint with 25 new offices in both rural and urban areas in FY2025. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission Latest News: Narendra Modi Government Likely To Hike DA for Employees by 3% in January 2025, Check Details. Star ...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 >
New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday said authorities cannot go against demolition orders issued by courts and stressed that displaced residents have been provided accommodation.Her words came in the wake of the recent Madrasi Camp demolition for which the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has criticised her. AAP has targeted Gupta, and alleged that the displaced Madrasi Camp residents were provided homes in faraway Narela, and those lack basic amenities.Attending an event to mark the construction of a Jan Sewa camp at a slum cluster in the Haiderpur area, Gupta told reporters: "In t ...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 >
Hyderabad: The four-member expert committee, formed by the Telangana government to investigate the alleged kidney racket at Alaknanda Hospital here, has put a plastic surgeon also under the scanner. The panel is currently questioning a large group of people, including kidney donors, recipients, and doctors, to unearth the details behind the racket. Officials said a comprehensive report will be submitted to the Director of Medical Education (DME) today. DME's Statement Speaking about the probe, the DME Dr. N. Vani claimed that there were several instances where donors, including widows, wer ...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 >
Nashik: Deputy CM Eknath Shinde's Jalgaon-Mumbai chartered flight was grounded on Friday evening after the pilot's flying-hour restrictions kicked in, but officials said special permission was secured for him to operate the flight after a kidney transplant patient sought help to reach a Mumbai hospital before midnight, reports Abhilash Botekar.Though she made it, the transplant was postponed because of organ unavailability, following which she returned by road with her husband.Shinde, attending a religious event, was delayed beyond the scheduled 7.15pm departure, leading to the pilot's hours r ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar: Revenue minister Suresh Pujari on Saturday said Odisha would not be allowed to follow the lawless path in sand operations like it is in Bihar and West Bengal, while responding to the recent assault of an additional tehsildar in Kaptipada block, Mayurbhanj district, by the sand mafia. He promised stringent action against the sand mafia regardless of their connections, while speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday."The Kaptipada incident represents a serious escalation in conflict between law enforcement and the sand mafia. The attack on officers performing their enforcement dutie ...Read More >
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu recorded one more Covid death on Saturday taking the total death toll in the state to six, according to the data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The deceased has been identified as a 42-year-old man who had uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, acute kidney disease and seizure disorder. The total active cases in the state as of Sunday stood at 194 with no new cases recorded, while there are 6,133 active cases countrywide, with 769 new infections being reported in the past 48 hours and six deaths reported in the past 24 hours, the ministry said. There were ...Read More >
Mumbai, May 29 (UNI) The police on Thursday arrested Dr Ajay Taware, the former medical superintendent of Sassoon General Hospital, in an alleged kidney transplant racket at a prominent private hospital in Pune. Dr Taware, who is already in custody at Yerwada Central Jail in a separate case involving alleged tampering of blood samples in the high-profile Pune Porsche crash, was taken into custody by the city crime branch for his suspected role in the 2022 kidney transplant scam at Ruby Hall Clinic. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nikhil Pingale, Dr Taware will be produced ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: In a major push to position India as a global hub for traditional medicine and holistic wellness, the Government of India has launched 'Ayush Nivesh Saarthi', a dedicated investor facilitation portal for the Ayush sector. The digital platform was unveiled on May 29, 2025, during the Ayush Stakeholder and Industry Interaction Meet at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. The portal was jointly launched by Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Ayush Minister Prataprao Jadhav, in the presence of senior government officials and global industry leaders including Ayush Secretary Vaidya Raje ...Read More >
Silchar: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday visited the flood-ravaged districts of Hailakandi and Sribhumi in the Barak Valley. He assured affected residents of providing timely disbursement of rehabilitation grants and swift repair of damaged infrastructure.This marks Sarma's second visit to the flood-hit region within four days, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Speaking to the media in Sribhumi after inspecting multiple relief camps, the CM said, "Flood-related problems may persist till July. I will return before Durga Puja to ensure that roads and infrastructure ar ...Read More >
Gurgaon: Two days after a law student died and his friend suffered critical injuries when a car knocked them down as they stood near railing on the service lane of Delhi-Jaipur highway in the early hours of Tuesday, a civil engineer was arrested on Thursday.Mohit (31), an employee of a private company in the city, told police that he got drowsy while driving. He is staying at a PG facility in Sector 14.The student who died, Harsh Singhal (25), was a resident of Om Nagar colony. His friend Abhishek Kumar (23), who is from Shanti Nagar in Sector 11, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital ...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 >
VMPL Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], December 2: HEJJE, India's first luxury transition care centre, opened their doors today, ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities with an aim of revolutionizing recovery and rehabilitation, thereby setting new standards in healthcare. Dr M.R.Seetharam - Vice Chairman of Ramaiah Group of Institutions, ex-Minister and current MLA did the honours of lighting the lamp to inaugurate HEJJE. The Launch of HEJJE saw the much-anticipated panel discussion featuring luminaries such as Dr. Nandini Mundkur, Prof. Shekar Sheshadri, Dr Saraswathy Viswa ...Read More >
New Delhi, January 31: The unveiling of the Economic Survey on Friday sets the stage for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to present the Union Budget for 2025-26 in Parliament on Saturday (February 1), which is expected to continue the government's policy of giving a big push to economic growth with equity. The government has prioritised improving the quality of life in rural areas to ensure equitable and inclusive development, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25. The survey highlights financial inclusion as a key focus, with rural households and small businesses getting easier access ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) In a move to position India as the global epicentre of traditional medicine and wellness, the government of India has launched the Ayush Nivesh Saarthi portal. The portal was launched on May 29 during the Ayush Stakeholder/Industry Interaction meet held at Vanijya Bhawan here, an Ayush Ministry statement said. The portal was jointly unveiled by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav. The event brought together senior government officials, industry leaders, and global stakeholders ...Read More >
Lucknow: The state's first Ayush university, coming up in Gorakhpur, is all set for its inauguration on June 30. If all goes as planned, President Droupadi Murmu will conduct the ceremony. She is also expected to attend the convocation ceremony of the first undergraduate (MBBS) batch at Gorakhpur AIIMS.Sharing this on Tuesday, an official spokesperson said, "The Ayush university will be Gorakhpur's fourth university and the first one where both the foundation stone laying and inauguration will be ...Read More >
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 7 (ANI): On the occasion of World Food Safety Day 2025, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, JP Nadda, delivered the keynote address at a special programme themed 'Stop Obesity by Eating Safe and Healthy' at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru on Saturday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a release. JP Nadda said that a healthy India is necessary for Viksit Bharat, and that can be ensured through the right types of food, healthy food habits, and lifestyle. Organized by the Food Safety an ...Read More >