On April 5th, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. Two days later marked World Health Day. In 2021, World Health Day occurs once more against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time Health Issues India covered World Health Day last year, I wrote “India [had] reported thousands […]
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Cancer in India: A snapshot of the threat
India observes World Cancer Day 2021 in far from normal circumstances. The raging COVID-19 pandemic has threatened to obscure the plethora of other diseases India and the world at large grapples with. Awareness events such as World Cancer Day serve to shine a light on the far-reaching impact of cancer in India, which has emerged […]
How medtech looks going forward: An interview with Pavan Choudary
Medtech is a staple of healthcare systems the world over, vital in the management of a plethora of health issues. Last year, to explore this subject, Health Issues India interviewed Medical Technology Association of India chairperson, Vygon Indian managing director, and writer Pavan Choudary. At that time, Choudary and I discussed the importance of medical […]
Cardiology assessments dropped dramatically during COVID
The pandemic witnessed a steep drop in the number of cardiology assessments, according to the recently-published results of a survey. Of particular concern throughout the COVID-19 has been the disruption to routine health services, ranging from routine immunisation to screening for and treatment of other diseases. In the case of cardiology, the International Atomic Energy […]
Dr V. Shanta, renowned oncologist, dies at 93
Dr V. Shanta, a renowned oncologist and chairperson of the Chennai-based Adyar Cancer Institute, has passed away at the age of 93. The Hindu reported that Shanta was admitted to hospital following complaints of chest pains. “Sources at the Cancer Institute said she had a complex block that could not be rectified,” the report said. […]
Cancer care: Experts urge patients to access treatment
Experts from multiple Asian countries including India have called for those in need to ensure they access cancer care, highlighting the risks of delaying treatment. The experts joined the AstraZeneca campaign “New normal, same cancer”, which aims to mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global response to cancer. “COVID-19 threatens to erase […]
Persons with disabilities: The Indian view
Today marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDWP), an observance dedicated to celebrating them and raising awareness of their conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated in its World Report on Disability 2021 that fifteen percent of the global population lives with some form of disability. This translates to more than one billion people. […]
UHC a must for a “better future”, says Vardhan
Universal health coverage (UHC) is a must for a “better future”, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan has asserted. Vardhan chaired the 147th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board via videoconferencing. In this capacity, he pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has underscored the need for […]
NCDs and the COVID-19 crisis
Many – if not most – public health challenges have been sidelined in the global discourse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), the World Health Organization (WHO) warns, are a case in point. COVID-19 – the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), commonly referred to simply as the coronavirus – […]
Healthcare infrastructure to get an update in Karnataka
The Karnataka government is seeking to improve healthcare infrastructure in the state, its Minister for Medical Education Dr K. Sudhakar has announced. The Minister visited the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, the PKTB Sanatorium and the Cheluvamba Hospital for Women and Children over the weekend, conducting infrastructure inspections at the sites. He […]