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.
New Delhi: India's scorching summers are getting hotter, and people are feeling the heat in more ways than one. Climate stress, driven by rising temperatures and extreme weather, is quietly changing lives across the country. From bustling cities to quiet villages, the changing weather brings worries about health and daily routines. A new report shines a light on this growing problem, showing how India's health risks are climbing due to climate change. As heatwaves become more common, families face new challenges that affect everyone, young and old alike. This issue matters because it touches the heart of our wellbeing, urging us to pay attention before it worsens. The report, called "Under the Weather: India's Climate-Health Intersections and Pathways to Resilience" by ClimateRISE Alliance and Dasra, warns that climate stress is not just about hotter days. It links directly to health dangers like heart problems and risks for mothers and babies. With India's huge population, these threats spread fast, hitting the poor hardest. Simple changes in weather now mean bigger troubles for hospitals and homes. Understanding this helps us see why action on climate and health must go hand in hand. Scorching heatwaves spike deadly heart risks in India Heatwaves are a big danger to hearts in India. The report shows they link to an 11.7 per cent rise in deaths from heart issues. Heart disease already causes 28 to 30 per cent of all deaths in the country, making this even scarier. In 2021, extreme heat stole 160 billion work hours, costing 5.4 per cent of India's GDP. Workers in fields and factories suffer most, as high temperatures make bodies overwork, raising blood pressure and strain on hearts. The elderly and those with past health woes face the worst hits. Climate stress worsens air pollution too, which takes another 2 per cent of GDP in health losses each year. The World Health Organization notes that such events kill thousands yearly worldwide, with India high on the list. Simple steps like staying indoors and drinking water help, but better warnings from weather offices can save lives. Government heat action plans in cities like Ahmedabad cut deaths by 25 per cent in tough years. Still, more districts need these now as heat hotspots grow. Pregnant women face alarming heat risks to babies Pregnant women face extra heat dangers from climate change. Over the last five years, they endured six more days of very high temperatures each year on average. This leads to a 16 per cent higher chance of early births, plus risks of stillbirths and baby hospital stays. Hot weather stresses the body, cutting blood flow to the baby and causing early labour. Rural mothers and informal workers get hit hardest, with poor access to cool shelters or clinics. The Lancet Countdown report adds that India saw nearly 20 heatwave days per person in 2024, with 6.5 extra due to climate shift. UNICEF warns children in India are at very high risk from such changes, facing more malnutrition and diseases. Heat also spreads germs like dengue, up 49 per cent globally since the 1950s. Hospitals report more low-weight babies during monsoons turned erratic. To fight back, community cooling centres and maternity heat alerts are key. Training health workers on climate signs can spot problems early, saving mums and little ones. Why Poor Kids and Women Suffer Most from Climate Fury Climate stress picks on the weak first -- women, kids, rural folk, and informal workers. The report calls it a 'multiplier' that deepens old problems like poor healthcare access. In high-risk districts, kids are 1.25 times more likely to be underweight, and mums 1.38 times more to deliver outside hospitals. Over 80 per cent of Indians live in climate-hotspot areas prone to floods, cyclones, and heat. Poor families lose wages from sick days, trapping them in poverty. PLOS One study shows climate vulnerability harms SDG health goals across 575 districts. Children face diarrhoea from bad water after floods, killing over 100,000 yearly. Elderly in slums suffer heat illnesses, with two-thirds affected in some cities. Germanwatch's Climate Risk Index ranks India 9th most hit, with 80,000 deaths since 1995. Aid groups push for strong homes and early warnings. Schools with cool rooms and farms with shade cut risks. Joining hands -- government, NGOs, locals -- builds shields for these groups. (162 words) How India can fight back against climate health crisis India needs joined-up plans for climate and health. The report urges mixing climate action with public health to boost productivity and cut deaths. CEEW-UNICEF profiling spots district risks, helping target aid. Heat action plans worked in some places, dropping deaths sharply. One, set up cool clinics and worker breaks funded by philanthropy. Two, improve weather apps for early farm warnings. Three, plant trees in green cities to lower urban heat by 5 degrees. Four, train doctors on heat illnesses. Five, cut emissions with solar power and clean cookstoves. Every step counts to shield health from climate stress. (128 words) Climate stress raises India's health risks, but smart steps can turn the tide. The "Under the Weather" report calls for unity in action. Together, we build a healthier, cooler future.
People often think doing cardio will interfere with gaining muscle, so they only do strength training. This misses out on the balance that's key for health and fitness. When done right, cardio builds endurance and strengthens your heart. It helps you perform better and recover faster, which means you can actually grow muscle more effectively as part of a balanced fitness routine. The belief that cardio "eats away" at your muscles is a persistent myth that doesn't hold up to science. In reality, research shows that moderate cardio benefits strength training. It boosts heart health and enduranc ...Read More >
Jaipur: Heat wave revived in the state Saturday when majority of places witnessed a rise of almost five degrees Celsius in their minimum and maximum temperatures. Jaisalmer remained hottest in the state where a maximum temperature of 45.3 degrees Celsius was recorded.The Met office said heat wave is likely to aggravate in the coming days.The Jaipur Met office said that pre-monsoon activity is likely to start in the state by June 15 and the monsoon is likely to enter Rajasthan by June 20.The heat wave also affected drinking water supply in many villages in districts, including Jaisalmer, Barmer ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 26 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to embark on a five-nation tour next week to attend the BRICS summit in Brazil and to enhance India's ties with four other nations, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Besides Brazil, Modi is set to visit Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina and Namibia, they said. There is no official announcement yet on Modi's planned trip. The main focus of the trip will be his visit to the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro to participate in the BRICS summit on July 6 and 7. BRICS brings together 11 major emerging economies of ...Read More >
New Delhi: Eating a bowl of leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables such as spinach, kale, and broccoli could significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, especially in elderly women, according to a recent study. The research, conducted by experts from Edith Cowan University (ECU), the University of Western Australia, and the Danish Cancer Institute, found that Vitamin K1, present in green vegetables, may help prevent atherosclerotic vascular diseases (ASVD) -- a major cause of cardiovascular issues. Also Read: Helmet: Two Helmets Now Mandatory with Every Two-Wheeler Purchase: ...Read More >
New Delhi: A day after cool and cloudy weather, the city faced a humid day under clear skies. The heat index, or "feels like" temperature, soared to 45.8 degrees Celsius at 4 pm. Despite the monsoon's arrival, the city has yet to receive substantial rainfall, with the IMD predicting only light showers for the rest of the week.On Tuesday, Delhi recorded patchy, very light rainfall. Safdarjung logged 0.3 mm till 5.30 pm. Other stations reported minimal rain: Palam (0.4 mm), Ridge (0.2 mm), Ayanagar (0.2 mm), Mungeshpur (0.5 mm), and Mayur Vihar (0.5 mm)."The monsoon trough at mean sea level cont ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Rising temperatures, driven by climate change, is increasing the atmosphere's 'thirst', making droughts around the world 40 per cent more severe over the past 40 years, according to a new study. Researchers, including those at the University of California-Santa Barbara, US, explained that the atmosphere is becoming warmer, thereby increasing its capacity to hold moisture -- atmospheric evaporative demand -- and making droughts more severe, even in places where rainfall has stayed the same. Also Read | Who Is Pinaki Misra? From Age to Family Background and Net Worth, He ...Read More >
New Delhi: India is set to overtake Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy, but must not become complacent, as the country remains far behind Japan in GDP per capita terms, WEF's former MD Claude Smadja said. According to IMF data dated April 2025, India's GDP per capita of USD 2,878.4 is approximately 8.5 per cent of Japan's GDP per capita of USD 33,955.7, meaning Japan's per capita income is about 11.8 times higher than India's. "Yes, it (economy size) is a good indicator because it gives a notion of the economic weight of the country on the global balance. "No, it is not a go ...Read More >
HYDERABAD: Thousands of residents of Madhapur face a serious health hazard as illegal water traders supply highly contaminated water from unauthorised borewells drilled near the heavily polluted Sunnam Cheruvu. This water, laced with dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals, is being delivered to hostels, educational institutions, hotels and eateries in the area. Many residents are consuming this water daily, unaware of the long-term harm to their health. Locals say the situation is dire. The stench from Sunnam Cheruvu is so strong that even standing near the lake has become unbearable. Yet, w ...Read More >
As per Moneycontrol's calculations, a 7 per cent growth in the remaining two quarters will put India's GDP at 6.5 per cent. The Indian economy would find it challenging to achieve over 7 per cent growth for the fourth consecutive year, economists said. They pointed out that the second-quarter (Q2) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data, which was announced on November 29, has made the task even more daunting for the government. "A sharper than expected growth slowdown in Q2 has tilted risks to our outlook of 6.8 per cent for the current fiscal downwards," said DK Joshi, chief economist, Crisil. ...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, June 29 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today highlighted a series of public health achievements, with a special emphasis on the eradication of eye disease trachoma, promotion of traditional wellness practices such as yoga, and women-led health initiatives at the grassroot levels. Addressing the nation in the 123rd edition of his radio talk show Mann Ki Baat, the PM lauded India's successful elimination of Trachoma, a bacterial eye infection, which has now been declared eradicated by the World Health Organisation (WHO). "I am very happy to share with you that WHO has declared I ...Read More >
New Delhi: A day after the southwest monsoon officially arrived, the city experienced patchy rainfall ranging from very light to moderate intensity, bringing further relief from the heat. Thick, dark monsoon clouds blanketed Delhi and its surrounding areas throughout Monday, contributing to a noticeable dip in daytime temperatures.While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted moderate rain for the day, it did not issue any colour-coded weather warnings for the remainder of the week. However, light rain is still expected to persist in the coming days."Delhi is currently under th ...Read More >
Delhi is facing worsening pollution and erratic weather patterns, with the air quality regularly reaching dangerous levels. This is partly due to climate change, with temperature rises and unpredictable rainfall patterns caused by global warming. The industrial revolution has played a significant role, contributing to the rise in global temperatures. The effects are already being felt, with 2024 witnessing record-breaking heat in India. Despite this, there is little action from society or leadership, with courts repeatedly stepping in to address issues like pollution and farm fires. The need f ...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 >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) Terming the 5.4 per cent GDP growth in the second quarter as a "temporary phenomena", FICCI President Harsha Vardhan Agarwal on Thursday said the industry body expects India to achieve 6.5-7 per cent economic growth in the current financial year, while projecting a pick up in private investment. In an interview to PTI, Agarwal, who is also the Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Emami Ltd, said the RBI needs to manoeuvre a "tight-rope balancing act" between inflation and economic growth, as he opined that the central bank has been doing a prudent job. Notably, the FI ...Read More >
Bhubaneswar, June 5 (UNI) Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday urged the people to resolve to end plastic pollution and maintain a healthy, clean environment. "Today, let us pledge to eliminate plastic pollution and create a healthier, cleaner environment for our citizens," Majhi said while addressing the state-level World Environment Day event. He noted that plastic has become an integral part of our lives, especially single-use plastics. Stressing that plastic waste must be ad ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Former head of Air India and chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani is the new Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) director. The official order for his appointment was issued on Wednesday. A 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME), Lohani is known for turning around various organisations during his illustrious career. Following his retirement from IRSME service, he joined the GMR Group as the CEO. According to the order dated June 4, his appointment to the post of director, Prime Ministers Museum and Library in the rank and pa ...Read More >
Fresh spells of rain lashed parts of the national capital on Saturday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an 'orange' alert, warning of more showers, thunderstorms, and gusty winds throughout the day. Light to moderate rainfall was reported across east, west, south, and southeast Delhi, with the IMD forecasting wind speeds between 30 to 50 km/h in the coming hours. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 28.7 degree Celsius, 0.8 degrees above the seasonal average, whil ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) The National Sample Survey Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), on Sunday launched the GoIStats mobile application, an all-encompassing data ecosystem for seamless access to official data. The application features an interactive "Key Trends" dashboard showcasing important socio-economic indicators with dynamic visualizations of critical metrics including GDP, inflation, employment data. Currently the android version of the mobile application is available free of charge on google play store. The iOS version will be releas ...Read More >
At Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, on Monday, a teacher played the role of a vegetable seller, complete with props, while students acted as buyers. "How much is this vegetable for?" asked the teacher, setting off lively exchanges -- all over a laptop screen. Advertisement https://images.indianexpress.com/2020/08/1x1.png This roleplay session, part of an online lesson about markets and vegetables, is one of many such creative strategies teachers are adopting as schools across Delhi shift to remote learning due to hazardous air pollution levels. The air quality in Delhi plummeted to "se ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], February 5 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Malviya on Wednesday slammed Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his 'Make in India' criticism and blamed Congress for 'doing nothing' to prepare India's economy for future even after a decade in power during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from 2004-2014. Malviya said said that the Congress-led UPA continued the "legacy of policy paralysis, rampant cronyism, and complete neglect of industrial growth." "It is good that Rahul Gandhi has finally acknowledged a fact the entire nation already knew--that e ...Read More >
New Delhi: The southwest monsoon is expected to reach Kerala within the next four to five days, marking an early onset well ahead of the usual June 1 date, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Tuesday. The IMD had earlier predicted that the monsoon would make landfall in Kerala by May 27. If the current forecast holds, this would be the earliest onset over the Indian mainland since 2009, when the monsoon arrived on May 23. "Conditions are likely to become favourable for monsoon onset over Kerala during the next four to five days," the IMD said in its afternoon update. Typically, ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his second visit to India to discuss ongoing economic and migration partnership. British High Commission said talks are on between the UK and the Indian Government to deepen and diversify the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries to deliver for working people in the UK. The Foreign Secretary will meet with Prime Minister Modi on his second visit to India to discuss the ongoing economic and migration partnership. Bolstering economic and migration ties and de ...Read More >
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Delhi on Monday, forecasting generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms. These are expected to be accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, occasionally reaching up to 50 kmph during storms. According to the IMD, an orange alert suggests the possibility of moderate to heavy rainfall. The alert signifies severe weather that could impact transport and power supply. The showers are likely to lower the maximum temperature, keeping it between 31 and 33 degrees Celsius, while the minimu ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jul 1: A severe heatwave continues to affect large parts of Europe, bringing extreme temperatures and dangerous conditions. In Italy, two people have died due to the scorching heat, while parts of Spain and Portugal recorded their highest-ever June temperatures, with the mercury reaching 46°C, reports international media. In the UK, Kent experienced the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures hitting 33.5°C. While southeast England continues to face very hot weather, reports BBC. The heat has also sparked serious wildfires in western Turkey, where more than 50,000 people ...Read More >
Despite its vast potential, the full capabilities of GST data remain largely unrealised. While aggregate data provides a broad overview of tax performance and health of the Indian economy, disaggregated sector-wise information is crucial for evidence-based policymaking. A closer look at the performance of GST revenue collection raises several questions. First, though the growth of GST revenue collection improved in the last seven years (13 per cent) compared to the pre-GST period 2012-17 (11.8 per cent), there has been hardly an increase in the tax base of GST in the last seven years compared ...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 >
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 >
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 >
New Delhi: India's manufacturing sector activity rose to a 14-month high in June on the back of expansions in output, new orders, and job creation, a private survey showed on Monday. The HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, rose to 58.4 in June, up from 57.6 in May from 58.2 in April and 58.1 in March. India's manufacturing PMI was 56.3 in February and 57.7 in January. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. To be sure, the headline figure was above its long-run average of 54.1, which suggests a substantial improvement in the sector's health. " ...Read More >