Health Current Affairs for UPSC (GS Paper II)

September 2026

• 28 Sep 2026

  Kerala Institute Develops Early Warning Model to Forecast Dengue Outbreaks

  Scientists at the Institute of Advanced Virology (IAV) in Kerala have created a predictive early warning system to forecast dengue fever transmission trends. The predictive model incorporates meteorological variables, vector breeding...

• 28 Sep 2026

  Haryana Implements Tele-ECG Network in Rural Primary Health Centres

  The Haryana government, in collaboration with a private tech startup, has scaled up a tele-ECG initiative across primary and community health centres in rural areas. The system allows rural clinics to record digital electrocardiograms,...

• 24 Sep 2026

  FSSAI to implement front-of-pack nutrition labelling

  The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) informed the Supreme Court that front-of-pack nutrition labelling will be rolled out in a single phase. The food regulator requested a four-month period to issue and finalise the...

• 21 Sep 2026

  Strengthening Food Safety and Phytosanitary Standards

  Rising concerns over food adulteration and agricultural rejection rates emphasize the need for robust quality control mechanisms in India. The Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) has highlighted key issues in phytosanitary...

• 21 Sep 2026

  Patent Laws and Generic Medicine Affordability

  A recent study highlights how India's legal framework effectively prevents patent evergreening, ensuring affordable access to vital drugs like diabetes medication. By prohibiting minor modifications of existing drugs from receiving...

• 20 Sep 2026

  Food Safety Experts Call for Risk-Based Framework in India

  Food safety scientists have highlighted the need for India to move away from reactive market-level testing toward a preventive risk-based management framework. Current enforcement relies heavily on sporadic shop-level inspections,...

• 20 Sep 2026

  Study Details Role of Anti-Evergreening Laws in Affordable Generic Healthcare

  A recent study on expensive diabetes treatments highlights how Section 3(d) of India's Patents Act prevents pharmaceutical companies from evergreening patents through minor modifications. This statutory protection enables local...

• 19 Sep 2026

  Linkages Between Air Pollution and Mental Health

  A new scientific study has established a correlation between environmental air pollution and increased rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The research explains that exposure to air pollutants, alongside water contaminated with...

• 18 Sep 2026

  FSSAI Initiates Legal Action Against Nestle India Over Infant Nutrition Claims

  The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated legal action against Nestle India. The regulator has sought clarifications regarding specific nutritional claims on infant milk products. These claims relate to the...

• 17 Sep 2026

  Centre restricts stem cell therapy for autism to clinical trials

  The Union Health Ministry issued a strict advisory prohibiting the commercial offering of stem cell therapy for autism spectrum disorder. The government clarified that unproven stem cell interventions must not be provided as routine or...

• 17 Sep 2026

  Revised Medical Protocols Urged for Melanoma Detection in India

  Medical experts have called for updated screening protocols for melanoma in India, where the skin cancer presents differently than in Western populations. In India, melanoma commonly develops on the soles of feet and beneath nails,...

• 16 Sep 2026

  Food Safety Authorities Consider Stricter Package Labels

  India's food safety regulators are considering mandatory high-visibility red warning labels on packaged food products containing excessive salt, sugar, or saturated fats. The proposal coincides with aggressive nationwide inspections...

• 15 Sep 2026

  ICMR-NIN study highlights combined diet and exercise approach for health

  A study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) has demonstrated that combining dietary modification with structured physical exercise yields the most effective and sustainable...

• 13 Sep 2026

  Telangana Plans Robotic Surgery Training for Postgraduate Medical Students

  The Telangana government is preparing to launch a specialized six-month training program in robotic surgery for medical postgraduate students in public institutions. The initiative seeks to equip modern surgeons with advanced minimally...

• 13 Sep 2026

  BRICS Leaders Deliberate on Local Currency Settlements and Health Cooperation

  At the 18th BRICS Summit hosted in New Delhi, member nations emphasized the linking of national payment systems and trading in local currencies rather than introducing a single common currency. The leaders also adopted the New Delhi...

• 13 Sep 2026

  Clinical Variations in Melanoma Presentation Flagged by Indian Oncologists

  Health experts have highlighted that unlike Western populations where melanoma is primarily caused by UV-induced skin lesions, melanoma cases in India predominantly manifest as acral lentiginous melanoma on the soles of feet and beneath...

• 12 Sep 2026

  Supreme Court Urges Timeline for FSSAI Warning Labels and School Nutritional Literacy

  The Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to provide a clear timeline for implementing Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) warning labels on packaged foods. Noting children's vulnerability to uninformed...

• 11 Sep 2026

  Supreme Court Questions FSSAI on Sugar, Salt, and Fat Warning Thresholds

  The Supreme Court of India questioned the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding standard thresholds for front-of-pack labelling (FOPL) targeting high sugar, salt, and saturated fat content. The court highlighted...

• 11 Sep 2026

  Human Activity Influences Genetic Diversity of Dengue Mosquitoes in India

  A scientific study highlights that human activities, rapid urbanization, and inter-city transport have significantly influenced the genetic structure and diversity of Aedes mosquitoes across India. Understanding vector movement and...

• 10 Sep 2026

  India Urged to Adopt Fiscal Measures to Curb Sugar Consumption

  Public health experts have called for India to introduce targeted tax measures on sugar-sweetened beverages, drawing inspiration from successful global models like the UK's soft drinks industry levy. Such policies encourage...

• 09 Sep 2026

  Government Drafts Perimenopausal Health Policy for Midlife Healthcare Integration

  Health authorities have introduced a dedicated perimenopausal health policy framework to address medical and psychological needs of women in their 40s and 50s. Perimenopause represents the transitional phase before menopause,...

• 09 Sep 2026

  Addressing Storage and Logistics Bottlenecks in India's Cornea Transplantation Network

  Medical experts have highlighted that nearly one in three donated corneas in India goes unused due to inadequate cold storage chemistry and delayed transportation protocols. Extending corneal preservation beyond the standard timeline...

• 09 Sep 2026

  Medical Council Recommends Replacing General Medicine Title with Internal Medicine

  Public health scholars and medical bodies have advocated replacing the traditional term General Medicine with Internal Medicine in Indian medical education and clinical settings. The term general medicine often creates confusion among...

• 08 Sep 2026

  Lancet Study Warns of 50 Percent Rise in Passive Smoking Deaths

  A comprehensive study published in The Lancet revealed that deaths attributable to second-hand tobacco smoke in India have increased by 50 percent since 1990. Public health experts emphasized the need for stricter implementation of...

• 07 Sep 2026

  Strengthening India's Eye Donation Infrastructure

  Health experts have highlighted that the future of corneal transplantation in India depends on robust public-private-NGO partnerships. Despite a high demand for corneal transplants, there is a persistent gap between the number of...

• 06 Sep 2026

  Nurses Registration and Tracking System to Streamline Healthcare Cadre

  The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare continues to scale up the Nurses Registration and Tracking System (NRTS) to maintain a live, verified national database of registered nurses and midwives. The system aims to eliminate duplicate...

• 04 Sep 2026

  Health Ministry Strengthens Live Tracking System for Healthcare Workers

  The Union Health Ministry is strengthening the Nurses Registration and Tracking System (NRTS) to create a live, real-time registry of nursing professionals across India. An updated portal will facilitate better manpower planning,...

• 03 Sep 2026

  Need for Standardization and Quality Oversight in AYUSH Education

  Public health policy experts have called for enhanced regulatory oversight and evidence-based clinical benchmarks across AYUSH institutions in India. Strengthening standardization in medical curricula, drug manufacturing quality, and...

• 03 Sep 2026

  Digital Tracking of Healthcare Workforce Through NRTS Portal

  The rollout and updating of the Nurses Registration and Tracking System (NRTS) has gained momentum as a key digital governance initiative for the healthcare sector. The live registry aims to standardize credential verification,...

• 02 Sep 2026

  Gaps Identified in Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Data Collection

  Although India has advanced its medical capability to treat childhood cancers, significant gaps persist in early screening and centralized patient data registries. Many rural and low-income families are unable to access specialized...

• 02 Sep 2026

  Regulatory Reforms Demanded for AYUSH Medical Education

  Policy experts and healthcare professionals have called for stricter regulatory oversight and quality control in AYUSH medical education institutions. While traditional systems of medicine play an important role in public health, uneven...

• 01 Sep 2026

  Hospital Fire Safety and Critical Care Infrastructure

  Recurring fire incidents in hospital Intensive Care Units (ICUs) have exposed structural vulnerabilities in emergency medical infrastructure. ICUs present high fire risk due to oxygen-rich atmospheres combined with continuous electrical...

August 2026

• 31 Aug 2026

  FSSAI Brings Alcoholic Beverages Under Stricter Quality Benchmarks

  The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is enforcing strict quality and label compliance standards for alcoholic beverages. Although alcohol trade is primarily regulated and taxed by State governments, it falls under...

• 30 Aug 2026

  Health alert issued following Swine Flu cases in states

  State health departments have issued advisories following fresh cases of Swine Flu (H1N1 influenza), instructing hospitals to set up dedicated isolation wards and surveillance mechanisms. H1N1 is a contagious respiratory virus that...

• 30 Aug 2026

  Public Health Experts Question Gaps in Proposed FSSAI Food Warning Labels

  Nutritionists and public health experts have flagged critical loopholes in the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) proposed red hexagonal warning labels for packaged foods. Concerns focus on lenient thresholds for...

• 30 Aug 2026

  AI Integration in Healthcare Demands Human Clinical Oversight

  Medical experts and technologists highlighted the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in medical diagnostics and robotic surgeries while emphasizing that clinical practitioners must retain final diagnostic authority....

• 29 Aug 2026

  FSSAI Proposes Red Warning Labels for High-Fat Foods

  The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed front-of-pack red pictorial warnings for food items high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS). In an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court, FSSAI highlighted that the...

• 28 Aug 2026

  Democratic Republic of Congo initiates mass Ebola vaccination campaign

  The Democratic Republic of Congo launched its largest Ebola vaccination campaign following its worst outbreak on record, which expanded across 60 health zones. Health authorities received over 50,000 doses of Ervebo, a single-dose...

• 28 Aug 2026

  ICU fire safety gaps highlight urgent need for structural evacuation protocols

  Recent fires in hospital Intensive Care Units (ICUs) across India have highlighted critical gaps in disaster preparedness, safety auditing, and evacuation mechanisms. Critically ill patients on life support require specialized...

• 28 Aug 2026

  French court classifies night shift work and cosmic radiation as occupational health hazard

  A landmark ruling by a French court officially recognized breast cancer in a flight attendant as an occupational disease linked to long-term night shift work and exposure to cosmic radiation. Disruption of circadian rhythms suppresses...

• 28 Aug 2026

  Rapid Expansion of AYUSH Education Sees Growth in Private Institutions

  Official data shows that AYUSH educational institutions in India grew by 23 percent between 2021 and 2024, reaching 971 colleges with total admissions approaching 80,000 students. However, the expansion is heavily weighted toward...

• 27 Aug 2026

  AYUSH education expands rapidly but private colleges dominate

  Statistics show a 23 percent increase in the number of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) colleges in India, growing from 789 in 2021 to 971 in 2024. However, this expansion is heavily lopsided toward private,...

• 27 Aug 2026

  Gaps in Childhood Cancer Care Data and Reach Highlighted

  While India has made significant advancements in medical technology to treat pediatric cancer, critical gaps persist in healthcare coverage and epidemiological data. Experts highlight that the exact incidence of childhood cancer remains...

• 26 Aug 2026

  Experts highlight lack of genetic testing facilities for intersex babies

  Healthcare advocates and medical experts have drawn attention to the unavailability of karyotyping and advanced genetic testing at most public hospitals in India. Families of intersex newborns are often forced to seek diagnostic tests...

• 25 Aug 2026

  FSSAI intensifies action against misleading nutritional claims on food items

  The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has stepped up regulatory enforcement against food manufacturers making exaggerated health claims, leading to corrective actions by major brands like Bournvita. The regulatory...

• 25 Aug 2026

  ICMR reports H1N1 strain accounts for majority of Influenza A cases

  The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reported that the H1N1 subtype accounts for nearly 98% of all Influenza A cases tested across the country. ICMR leadership advised that there is no need for widespread panic or mandatory...

• 25 Aug 2026

  Centre Restricts Fixed-Dose Cold Medicines for Children Under Four

  The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare restricted the use of fixed-dose combination (FDC) medicines containing chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylephrine for children below four years of age. The move follows international...

• 25 Aug 2026

  ICMR-NIN Study Links Environmental Lead Exposure to Severe Neuronal Damage

  A recent study by the National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) revealed that chronic environmental exposure to lead causes severe cellular alterations and accelerates neuronal damage. The research demonstrates how heavy metal toxicity...

• 24 Aug 2026

  ICMR Reassures Public on Circulating H1N1 Strains and Vaccine Efficacy

  The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed that there are no new mutant strains of the H1N1 influenza virus circulating in the country. The health research body affirmed that current influenza strains match existing...

• 23 Aug 2026

  Health Ministry Restricts Common Cold Combination Drugs for Young Children

  The Union Health Ministry has restricted the use of Fixed Dose Combination (FDC) drugs containing Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Phenylephrine Hydrochloride for children below four years of age. These ingredients, commonly found in...

• 22 Aug 2026

  Clinical Trial Shows mRNA Cancer Drug Efficacy Against Melanoma

  A large, late-stage clinical trial evaluating an investigational mRNA-based cancer drug showed significant efficacy in curbing the recurrence of melanoma. This marks the first time an mRNA therapeutic platform has demonstrated positive...

• 21 Aug 2026

  Study Uncovers Inappropriate Tuberculosis Prescriptions

  A systematic review analyzing 34 health studies revealed that over 53 percent of anti-tuberculosis prescriptions outside national healthcare programs failed to adhere to standard treatment guidelines. The study estimated that two to...

• 21 Aug 2026

  Harnessing India's Genetic Diversity for Precision Medicine

  Scientists emphasize that India's vast genetic mosaic, comprising over 5,000 distinct ethnic groups shaped by historical endogamy, offers a transformative opportunity for precision medicine. High genetic variation allows researchers to...

• 21 Aug 2026

  Shigellosis Outbreak Prompts Public Health Advisories in Kerala

  Cases of Shigellosis, a highly contagious bacterial intestinal infection, have resurfaced in Kerala, prompting state health officials to issue urgent public sanitation warnings. The infection spreads primarily through contaminated...

• 20 Aug 2026

  National Medical Commission Proposes Unified Licence for Doctors Nationwide

  The National Medical Commission has proposed a single national licence system for doctors across India using a Unique Identification number. Once registered with a State Medical Council and issued a Unique Identification number, a...

• 19 Aug 2026

  Ebola Outbreak in Congo Surpasses 5,000 Cases

  The ongoing Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has surpassed 5,000 cases, resulting in over 2,300 deaths. Health authorities report that violent conflict, population displacement, and dense mobility are...

• 19 Aug 2026

  Surge in H1N1 Cases Prompts Public Health Alert

  Several states, including Delhi, have registered a sharp spike in seasonal H1N1 influenza cases compared to previous years. Public health specialists have advised against panic while recommending targeted measures, such as timely...

• 18 Aug 2026

  Tamil Nadu to Formulate Dedicated Peri-Menopausal Care Policy

  The Tamil Nadu government has announced plans to draft a comprehensive Peri-Menopausal Care Policy to systematically address the physical and psychological health needs of women in the peri-menopausal age group. Alongside this, the...

• 17 Aug 2026

  ICMR-NIN Study Links Vitamin Deficiencies to Cognitive Decline in Elderly

  A recent study by the ICMR National Institute of Nutrition highlights that micronutrient deficiencies, particularly of essential vitamins, significantly accelerate cognitive decline among the elderly population. The researchers...

• 16 Aug 2026

  Telangana Unveils TG SAFE for Food and Drug Safety

  The Telangana government has officially integrated food safety and drugs control administrative departments under a unified administrative umbrella named 'TG SAFE'. Senior IPS officer Avinash Mohanty has been appointed as the first...

• 16 Aug 2026

  CAG Detects E. Coli in Railway Station Drinking Water

  The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has flagged severe violations of drinking water quality norms at several railway stations across the country. The audit revealed the presence of E. coli bacteria in water samples meant...

• 02 Aug 2026

  Higher Education Institutes Initiate Voluntary Drug Testing for Admissions

  Elite institutions like IITs and IIMs have started voluntary urine drug tests during admissions as part of a national anti-drug mission. The government aims to screen 10 lakh students across 170 central higher education institutions by...

• 02 Aug 2026

  Call for Special Taxes on Foods High in Fat, Sugar, and Salt

  Public health advocates and editorials are pushing for the introduction of special taxes on foods high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS). With the rising burden of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular issues in India,...

• 01 Aug 2026

  Metabolic Health Crisis Among Indian Adolescents

  A 17-year comparative study in Chennai has revealed a sharp rise in prediabetes and obesity among school-going adolescents. The findings show worsening lipid profiles and fasting glucose levels, indicating a high future risk of...

July 2026

• 31 Jul 2026

  Dementia Risk Study Highlights Vulnerability of Rural Women

  A recent study identified diabetes and hearing loss as key modifiable risk factors driving dementia in India. The study noted a higher prevalence among rural populations and women, primarily due to the underdiagnosis of these underlying...

• 31 Jul 2026

  NCISM Rules Registered AYUSH Practitioners Cannot Be Termed 'Quacks'

  The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) issued a circular reinforcing the legal status of registered AYUSH practitioners. The circular aims to prevent their public mischaracterization and protect their legal status...

• 29 Jul 2026

  Study reveals complex dengue burden with co-circulating strains

  A nationwide surveillance study by ICMR-VRDL has found that multiple virus strains of dengue are circulating simultaneously in India. This co-circulation increases the risk of severe disease and presents significant hurdles for the...

• 29 Jul 2026

  Early menopause crisis identified among women in rural Bihar

  A recent study has highlighted a worrying trend where women in rural Bihar are reaching menopause in their early thirties. Experts point to poor reproductive surgical care and the incentivization of unnecessary hysterectomies under...

• 28 Jul 2026

  Balancing Safety and Access in Dengue Vaccine Deployment

  As India considers the deployment of the Qdenga dengue vaccine, public health experts are urging the government to ensure its affordability. Given the high burden of dengue in tropical regions, making the vaccine accessible to...

• 28 Jul 2026

  Rising Amoebic Meningitis Fatalities Concern Public Health Officials

  Kerala has reported another death due to primary amebic meningoencephalitis, commonly known as amoebic brain fever. Public health officials are struggling to pinpoint the exact source of the infection, raising concerns about safety...

• 27 Jul 2026

  Call for Affordable Rollout of Qdenga Dengue Vaccine in India

  Public health advocates have emphasized the need for an affordable, country-wide rollout of the Qdenga live-attenuated dengue vaccine in India. Dengue is a major vector-borne health threat in India, placing substantial economic and...

• 26 Jul 2026

  Rajasthan battles Chandipura virus cases

  Rajasthan has intensified health surveillance measures after two deceased young girls tested positive for the Chandipura virus. This emerging vector-borne pathogen primarily targets children under the age of 15, causing sudden high...

• 25 Jul 2026

  Alarm Over Rising Adolescent Pregnancies in Karnataka's Dharwad

  The All India Mahila Samsrutik Sanghatan (AIMSS) has submitted a memorandum to the district administration of Dharwad in Karnataka, highlighting a sharp increase in adolescent pregnancies. The organisation has demanded immediate...

• 24 Jul 2026

  Parliamentary Panel Urges FSSAI to Finalise Nutrition Labelling

  A Parliamentary Panel has expressed dismay over the prolonged delay in finalising the Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) norms by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Despite draft regulations being notified...

• 24 Jul 2026

  India Dispatches Ebola Preparedness Medical Aid to Kenya

  India has dispatched 4.5 tonnes of medical aid to Kenya to strengthen its public health preparedness against potential Ebola outbreaks. The consignments include essential medicines, protective gear, and medical equipment, reinforcing...

• 23 Jul 2026

  Gujarat Mandates Specialized De-Addiction Centres in All Districts

  The Gujarat government has approved the establishment of specialized de-addiction centres in all district hospitals across the state to address substance abuse systematically. These centres are designed to provide scientific...

• 22 Jul 2026

  India Approves Its First Dengue Vaccine QDENGA

  QDENGA has received official approval for use in India, marking a major milestone in public health and disease prevention. The vaccine is designed to protect against all four serotypes of the dengue virus, which is endemic across the...

• 22 Jul 2026

  Study Tracks Heat Stress Health Impacts in South India

  A new scientific study has been launched across select sites in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to evaluate the exact impact of heat stress on human health. Participants across 1,200 households in sites such as Perungudi and Poompuhar in Tamil...

• 21 Jul 2026

  Severe Anaemia and Stunting Alarm in Odisha's PVTGs

  A study by Utkal University has revealed that more than half of adult women among Odisha's Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are anaemic. The study flags a critical public health emergency, noting that the Hill Kharia tribe...

• 21 Jul 2026

  CIC Directs IITs to Form Student Suicide Prevention Panels

  The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed all Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to constitute high-level committees to curb student suicides. The directive mandates that details of these committees and their mental...

• 17 Jul 2026

  Supreme Court intervenes in life-saving drug pricing

  The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognisance of a case concerning access to expensive life-saving medicines. The issue originated from a petition filed in the Kerala High Court by a breast cancer patient challenging the...

• 17 Jul 2026

  Breakthrough daily pill targets high LDL cholesterol

  Medical researchers have developed a breakthrough daily oral pill that significantly reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, offering a powerful alternative to injectable treatments. Unlike traditional statins which can have...

• 17 Jul 2026

  Concerns over Cyclospora parasite outbreak

  Medical experts have raised concerns over Cyclospora, a parasite that causes 'explosive diarrhea' and is increasingly being reported. The outbreak highlights the need for better food safety protocols and cross-border cooperation to...

• 16 Jul 2026

  National Medical Commission Toughens Rules for Medical Colleges

  The National Medical Commission (NMC) has drafted strict regulations to bar approval for new medical colleges that have incomplete infrastructure or inadequate teaching staff. The draft rules mark a regulatory shift aiming to prioritize...

• 15 Jul 2026

  Draft National Health Research Policy Unveiled

  The Department of Health Research has prepared a draft national health research policy that aims to overhaul India's medical research landscape. This marks the first unified national framework spanning clinical medicine, biomedical...

• 14 Jul 2026

  Near-Universal Birth and Death Registration Milestone in India

  India has achieved a major milestone by registering over 99 percent of its births and deaths under the Civil Registration System. Experts point out that while this universal coverage is a massive step forward, public health focus must...

• 13 Jul 2026

  Drones drastically reduce tuberculosis diagnosis costs in Telangana

  An innovative healthcare program in Telangana's Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district has successfully reduced tuberculosis sputum sample transportation costs using drone technology. By bypassing poor road connectivity, drone delivery slashed...

• 12 Jul 2026

  NFHS-6 Flags Sharp Rise in Private C-Section Rates

  The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) data highlights a steep increase in Caesarean section (C-section) deliveries, with Jammu and Kashmir leading in private hospital rates. Medical experts attribute this trend to factors...

• 11 Jul 2026

  Global Report Highlights Deep Disparities in Cancer Medicine Access

  The Global Status Report on Cancer 2026 has raised alarms over the rising incidence of cancer worldwide and the severe inequality in access to essential treatments. The report reveals that the availability of the top 20 priority cancer...

• 10 Jul 2026

  Breakthrough weekly insulin shot for diabetes treatment

  Medical experts are highlighting the potential of the world's first weekly insulin injection to transform diabetes care in India. Moving from daily to weekly shots is expected to improve patient compliance and reduce the long-term...

• 10 Jul 2026

  Drug safety concerns rise after fake oxytocin deaths in Rajasthan

  The death of several women following C-section surgeries in Kota, Rajasthan, has been linked to the administration of fake oxytocin injections. Oxytocin is a critical hormone used to control post-partum hemorrhage, and this tragedy has...

• 10 Jul 2026

  Punjab adopts methadone treatment to combat severe drug addiction

  In its fight against opioid addiction, Punjab is expanding the use of Methadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) alongside Buprenorphine. Methadone is a long-acting synthetic opioid agonist that helps prevent withdrawal symptoms and reduce...

• 09 Jul 2026

  Fatal Chandipura Virus Infection Reported in Gujarat

  A child has died from a Chandipura virus infection in Gujarat's Sabarkantha district, triggering public health alerts in the region. Part of the Rhabdoviridae family, the Chandipura virus is transmitted primarily by sandflies and...

• 09 Jul 2026

  Dengue Surge Forces Sri Lankan Universities to Move Online

  Sri Lankan universities have closed and shifted to online classes as the island nation battles a massive surge in dengue cases. The National Dengue Control Unit reported over 65,000 cases, with the capital city of Colombo accounting for...

• 09 Jul 2026

  Regulatory Gaps in India's Multi-Pathway Pesticide Exposure

  When regulating pesticide exposure, India treats food, water, and air pathways as independent problems, each governed by separate laws and ceilings. Experts warn this fragmented approach fails to assess cumulative toxicity, where an...

• 09 Jul 2026

  New Policy Framework for Dignified Death in Terminal Illness

  A state government has approved pioneering guidelines to ensure a dignified natural death for terminally-ill patients with zero prospects of recovery. The policy outlines protocols for withholding or withdrawing life-support systems...

• 08 Jul 2026

  Assam’s Success in Cancer Survival Rates

  Assam has recorded a landmark 62% cancer survival rate, attributed to its unique decentralized cancer care model and widespread early screening programs. Instead of relying on a single, overburdened apex institute, the state established...

• 08 Jul 2026

  The Statistical Challenge of Tracking Heatwave Mortalities

  As climate change intensifies summer temperatures, public health experts argue that India drastically underreports heatwave deaths. The primary challenge lies in medical certification, where heatstrokes are rarely registered as the...

• 08 Jul 2026

  The Case for Making Cancer a Notifiable Disease in India

  Public health advocates are calling on India to make cancer a nationally notifiable disease to establish a comprehensive epidemiological database. Currently, cancer data relies on regional registries, leaving vast gaps in tracking...

• 06 Jul 2026

  Decline in Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates Under NFHS-6

  Despite marked improvements in institutional deliveries and overall women empowerment metrics, recent NFHS-6 data reveals a decline in exclusive breastfeeding rates across India. Experts point to persistent gaps in postnatal support,...

• 06 Jul 2026

  Adapting Maternal Health Systems to Climate Change

  Experts argue that India's maternal health systems, designed over past decades, need urgent updates to survive the challenges of a rapidly heating planet. Extreme heatwaves and shifting monsoon patterns are escalating the risks of...

• 05 Jul 2026

  New Regulatory Amendment Brings Stem Cell and Gene Therapies Under Central Licensing

  The Indian government has introduced a new regulatory amendment to bring stem cell and gene therapies under the Central licensing net. The rules aim to bridge a critical regulatory gap and curb the administration of unproven or...

• 05 Jul 2026

  Activists Seek Urgent Revision of National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM)

  Health advocacy groups have petitioned the government for an urgent revision of the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM). The NLEM was last updated in 2022 with 384 medicines, whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) Model...

• 04 Jul 2026

  Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in India: Addressing Emotional and Socio-Economic Gaps

  Legal and healthcare analysts have pointed out that while India's clinical infrastructure for In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) has advanced rapidly, there remains a massive policy gap in regulating non-medical needs. High costs, lack of...

• 03 Jul 2026

  Rollout of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination to Combat Cervical Cancer

  Public health departments across several Indian states are intensifying the rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. This major public health initiative aims to dramatically reduce the incidence of cervical cancer, which...

• 03 Jul 2026

  Digital Vaccines: The Interface of AI and Behavioral Public Health

  Researchers are highlighting the emerging field of "digital vaccines", technological interventions where artificial intelligence and behavioral science are combined to influence human habits and prevent metabolic and non-communicable...