Public Health

Centre steps up Ebola preparedness after WHO alert in Central Africa

The Health Ministry has strengthened surveillance and preparedness measures after the WHO flagged an Ebola outbreak in parts of Congo and Uganda

Viral fears: Hantavirus and Ebola raise global health threat perceptions

The question is how far India is at risk, especially given India's public-health delivery mechanisms and the cocktail of unidentified viruses that circulate through its cities each summer and monsoon

Science and Practice of Public Health: A manual for the developing world

At a time when the world is grappling with public health challenges, this book is an easy-to-read handbook for policymakers, connecting theory to the practice of public health

India's next pharma leap will be built on smarter global regulations

A risk-based system allows regulators to pay attention where it matters most, while providing industry with predictability

Amazon launches 'Health AI' to answer medical queries, manage records

Amazon introduces Health AI assistant on its website and app to answer health questions, explain medical records, manage prescriptions and connect users with One Medical providers

Centre plans national assessment of district hospitals for emergency care

The Centre will conduct a nationwide assessment of district hospitals to identify gaps in emergency and trauma care infrastructure and strengthen facilities in line with IPHS norms

Free HPV vaccination may sharply cut India's cervical cancer burden

Public-health experts say India's free HPV vaccination for 14-year-old girls could significantly lower cervical cancer cases and deaths, but warn success hinges on strong screening and sustained execu

Swachh Bharat's next test is making safety and public health central

India's Swachh Bharat Mission has transformed urban cleanliness, but gaps in water safety and public health show why sanitation rankings must evolve from visible cleanliness to urban resilience

Budget 2026: With under 2% of GDP, India's health spending lags global norms

India's public health spending remains below 2% of GDP, far lower than global standards and middle-income peers. As disease burdens rise, experts ask if underfunding health is now an economic risk

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