Page 2 - World Health Organisation

ICMR study shows improved nutrition's impact in curbing TB; WHO agrees

A study funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has demonstrated the impact of improved nutrition in reducing tuberculosis cases and fatalities, with the WHO incorporating the findings into updated global guidance on controlling the disease. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of nutritional supplementation on tuberculosis incidence in household contacts of adults with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis. Household contacts of 2,800 patients with microbiologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis across 28 units of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme in four districts of Jharkhand were enrolled for this field-based, open-label, cluster-randomised controlled trial. The study, published by The Lancet, said that in India, tuberculosis and undernutrition are syndemic, with a high burden of TB coexisting with a high burden of undernutrition in patients and in the population. In a post on X on August 7, ICMR said the WHO has recogni

Canine concerns: Municipalities ignore cost-effective, structured solutions

The Supreme Court's order amplifies justifiable concerns. But it is likely to fail because it betrays a misunderstanding of municipal capabilities and the dynamics of dog population control

WHO approves injectable HIV drug lenacapavir for high-risk communities

Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis, has been recommended by the WHO to help protect high-risk groups, as global HIV prevention efforts face funding setbacks

14 million children did not receive a single vaccine in 2024, says UN

More than 14 million children did not receive a single vaccine last year about the same number as the year before according to UN health officials. Nine countries accounted for more than half of those unprotected children. In their annual estimate of global vaccine coverage, released Tuesday, the World Health Organization and UNICEF said about 89 per cent of children under one year old got a first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough vaccine in 2024, the same as in 2023. About 85 per cent completed the three-dose series, up from 84 per cent in 2023. Officials acknowledged, however, that the collapse of international aid this year will make it more difficult to reduce the number of unprotected children. In January, US President Trump withdrew the country from the WHO, froze nearly all humanitarian aid and later moved to close the US AID Agency. And last month, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said it was pulling the billions of dollars the US had previously ...

WHO's '3 by 35' plan aims 50% tax hike on tobacco, alcohol, sugary drinks

The WHO says its global tax plan could raise $1 trillion and save 50 million lives by 2035 by curbing harmful product consumption and funding health systems

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurates Ayushman Arogya Mandirs

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday asserted that her government wants to make the national capital best in terms of health infrastructure as she inaugurated an Ayushman Arogya Mandir here to deliver comprehensive primary health care. At the inauguration event at Tis Hazari, Gupta also hit out at the previous AAP dispensation and alleged that mohalla clinics run by them were "corruption hubs". "Corruption was committed in the name of outsourcing of tests. There was corruption in taking space for the clinics on rent," she charged. Gupta said the Centre had allocated Rs 2,400 crore to the previous government for opening of over 1,100 Ayushman Mandirs but those funds were not utilised. "Those funds will lapse by March. The previous government did not use the funds. We have to build these Ayushman Mandirs by March next year so that the funds do not get lapsed. The work that should have been done in five years, we will have to do it in much less time," she added. The chief min

India, Thailand, Singapore see uptick in Covid cases; WHO urges vigilance

With 91,583 global Covid-19 cases in 28 days before May 11, many South Asian governments urged citizens to wear masks and stay cautious

No cause of worry, infection severity mild: ICMR DG amid Covid cases uptick

Amid an uptick in Covid cases in some parts of the country, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Dr Rajiv Behl Monday said the severity of infections as of now is generally mild and there was no cause for worry. Speaking about new Covid variants being traced, he said genome sequencing of samples in the west and south have shown that the new variants are not severe and are Omicron sub-variants. These are LF.7, XFG, JN.1 and NB. 1.8.1. The first three are more prevalent, Dr Bhel said. "Samples from other places are being sequenced and we will know in a day or two if there are more variants." The ICMR DG said there has been an uptick in cases --first from the south, then west and now from northern India. All these cases are being monitored through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). Besides that, ICMR's nationwide respiratory virus sentinel surveillance network is keeping a watch on emerging infections and pathogens, he said. "Whenever c

WHO members back resolution for global pact to prevent future pandemics

The pandemic agreement and the resolution calling for its adoption will be discussed by the full plenary of the World Health Assembly on May 20

WHO chief defends $2.1 bn budget after US cuts, compares with cost of war

Stripped of U.S funding, the World Health Organization chief on Monday appealed to member countries to support its extremely modest request for a USD 2.1 billion annual budget by putting that sum into perspective next to outlays for ad campaigns for tobacco or the cost of war. After nearly 80 years of striving to improve human lives and health - which critics say it has done poorly or not enough -- the U.N. health agency is fighting for its own after U.S. President Donald Trump in January halted funding from the United States, which has traditionally been WHO's largest donor. Two-point-one billion dollars is the equivalent of global military expenditure every eight hours, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Two-point-one billion dollars is the price of one stealth bomber, to kill people. And USD 2.1 billion is one-quarter of what the tobacco industry spends on advertising and promotion every single year. Again, a product that kills people, he told the WHO's annual

India gets WHO certificate for eliminating trachoma at 78th WH Assembly

At the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus awarded India the Certificate of Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem.The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) stated that this recognition highlights India's sustained efforts in disease elimination, its focus on preventive healthcare, and its continued commitment to the vision of Health For All.The milestone was announced during India's participation in the 78th World Health Assembly, which officially began on May 19 in Geneva. According to a post shared by the MoHFW on X, the Indian delegation is being led by Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary at the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare."Today marks the commencement of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. The Indian delegation, led by Punya Salila Srivastava... is actively participating in the Assembly, reflecting India's continued commitment to strengthening global health systems

India sends team to 78th World Health Assembly, backs global health ties

Reaffirming its commitment towards global health cooperation, India has sent a delegation to participate in the 78th World Health Assembly commencing in Geneva, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), shared on Monday.Providing the details in a post on X, the MoHFW said that the Indian delegation is being led by Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.It further noted that India's participation reflects the continued commitment towards strengthening global health systems and advancing international collaboration."Today marks the commencement of the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva. The Indian delegation, led by Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, is actively participating in the Assembly, reflecting India's continued commitment to strengthening global health systems and advancing international collaboration."As per the World Health Organisation, the 78th World ...

WHO opens annual meet amid crisis sparked by US funding cuts, exit plans

The World Health Organisation on Monday opened its annual meeting of government ministers and other top envoys facing one of the most serious crises of its 77-year history in the wake of Trump administration funding cuts and plans to withdraw the United States. The UN health agency this year has seen a plunge in its ability to carry out its sweeping mandate to do everything from recommend reductions in sugar levels in soft drinks to head the global response to pandemics like COVID-19 or outbreaks like polio or Ebola. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been grappling with a response to the US cuts as well as reduced outlays from other traditional Western donors who are putting more money toward defense and less toward humanitarian aid. Matthew Kavanagh, the director of Georgetown University's centre for Global Health Policy and Politics, said other countries have used the US disruption the cut in aid as cover to do their maneuvering, with many countries in Europe ...

Do not apply for health cover without revealing existing hypertension

Try bringing condition under control to improve chances of getting coverage

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

India, others pledge to cut health impact of pollution by 2040 at WHO meet

India has pledged to reduce the health impacts of air pollution by 2040, aligning its actions with the National Clean Air Programme at the concluding session of the second World Health Organisation (WHO) conference on air pollution and health here. Speaking at the conference organised in Colombian city of Cartagena, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's Aakash Shrivastava said that the Indian government is committed to supporting the health sector and will promote cleaner cooking energy, particularly for vulnerable populations. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India, is committed to supporting the health sector with actions in alignment with the National Clean Air Programme to reduce the health impacts of air pollution by 2040. We will strengthen air pollution and noncommunicable disease surveillance, promote cleaner cooking energy, particularly for vulnerable populations, and support clinicians in protecting at-risk patients, Shrivastava said. However, a report presente

WHO updates ICD framework, includes traditional medicine in health module

WHO has introduced a new module dedicated to traditional medicine conditions in its 2025 update to the International Classification of Diseases, marking a monumental step in the systematic tracking and global integration of traditional systems of healthcare practices, the government said on Wednesday. The Ayush Ministry said this update follows the successful year-long testing and deliberations after the launch of International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11 TM-2 in January last year for Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems of medicine for country implementation testing. "This groundbreaking inclusion of traditional medicine in WHO's internationally recognised health framework ensures that traditional health systems of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani are officially documented and categorized in ICD-11, alongside conventional medical conditions. This elevates their status in global health reporting, research and policymaking," it said. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, the secretary in the ...

Covid's quiet fade: Nearly 3 deaths per month still being reported

The latest numbers show that there have been 41 cases of Covid in the most recent four-week period ending mid-January, with three deaths

US exiting WHO won't impact projects in India: Health Minister Nadda

Union Health Minister J P Nadda said Tuesday the US announcing to exit the World Health Organization (WHO) will not impact the programmes going on India in partnership with the global agency. "Our projects and programmes will continue. As far as health is concerned, we are not dependent on anybody," he told a press conference on the progress made in the last 10 years under the National Health Mission (NHM). "There are many programmes where WHO partners with us and there will be no disruption. India is one of the major contributors to the WHO," he said. Listing out the achievements made under the NHM in the last 10 years, Nadda said some new initiatives -- like National Sickle Cell Anaemia Mission and Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP) -- were added after 2014 while many other initiatives have been reinvigorated such as the National TB Elimination Programme, Mission Indradhanush (MI) etc. The share of central release under the NHM has seen a 185 per cent growth since

WHO regrets Trump's decision to withdraw, hopes for reconsideration

The statement from WHO came after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday, announcing the withdrawal of the US from WHO