Public Health

States' excise policy must optimise revenue, adopt clearer regulation

An optimal state policy must go beyond a revenue-hungry, punitive regulatory regime

Governance deficit: Indore tragedy highlights systemic flaws

The Indore water tragedy exposes deep flaws in urban governance, revealing how capacity gaps and inequality persist despite funds, schemes, and "clean city" rankings

Health shocks of the year: What 2025 taught India about being unprepared

From unsafe medicines and rare infections to heatwaves and failing antibiotics, 2025 exposed why preparedness can no longer wait

MPs' forum seeks action on lack of funds for treating rare diseases

A bipartisan parliamentary forum has warned that funding shortages and administrative delays under India's rare disease policy are disrupting life-saving treatment

Consumer Protection: Allopathic doctor can't prescribe ayurvedic drugs

The Medical Council had exonerated Dr Agarwal of negligence. But the Consumer Commission held him guilty because he was an allopathic doctor who had prescribed an ayurvedic drug

Datanomics: Uranium traces put spotlight on India's polluted aquifers

A new nationwide groundwater assessment shows rising uranium and nitrate contamination - with Punjab and Delhi among the worst affected - raising urgent health and policy concerns

Sitharaman to move Health and National Security Cess Bill in LS today

Earlier on Wednesday, the Lok Sabha passed a Bill aimed at increasing excise duty on tobacco products and their manufacturing after a discussion

A binding national plan is urgently needed to tackle air pollution

The key message from this 10-year study is that despite policy intervention and technological improvement, India's major cities continue to suffer major air-quality challenges

Africa's hidden stillbirth crisis: New report exposes policy, data gaps

The burden of stillbirths in Africa is staggering. Africa accounts for half of all stillbirths globally, with nearly eight times higher rates than in Europe

AI can shift Indian healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive: KPMG

A new KPMG-FICCI report says India's healthcare system is at a pivotal moment, with AI poised to drive a shift from reactive treatment to proactive, data-driven and preventive care across the sector

Datanomics: Over 6% of India's population is living with diabetes

World Diabetes Day spotlights India's 89.8 million cases, top testing states, and need for early diagnosis, prevention, and continuous care

India's PVC resin imports contain carcinogens up to 5 times safety limits

PVC currently accounts for nearly 30 per cent of India's economy, with widespread use in water, sanitation, irrigation, healthcare, construction and infrastructure sectors

WHO issues alert against 3 cough syrups linked to MP children's deaths

CDSCO had earlier informed the global health body that none of the syrups were exported to other countries

Healthy outcomes: Address key gaps to make infant survival universal

India's infant mortality rate hits a record low, but stark regional gaps in nutrition, immunisation, and newborn care threaten to slow public health gains

Investing in mothers is investing in India's future

To truly unlock India's productivity and economic potential, we must address challenges around maternal nutrition

Pharma manufacturing tends to cause AMR in communities: Nick Voulvoulis

Changes are required both in manufacturing practices as well as in regulatory oversight, says Voulvoulis

Covid booster jab not needed, say experts; high-risk groups need protection

Public health experts recommend a risk-based Covid response focused on the elderly and immunocompromised instead of mass booster vaccination campaigns

India's life expectancy falls for 1st time in 50 yrs; blame it on Covid-19

Even in 2020, the first pandemic year, deaths had already risen by over six per cent compared to 2019

World Malaria Day: India shows the way, but global fight far from over

Global malaria cases and deaths declined in 2023-24, with India exiting the HBHI group, yet WHO warns that funding cuts and health disruptions threaten continued progress

Global survey reveals low awareness of shingles among older Indians

Shingles, caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus-the same virus responsible for chickenpox-is a painful disease that can lead to severe and long-lasting complications