Whilst much attention has been paid to air quality in Delhi, the issue is far from isolated to the Capital, affecting swathes of the country and blighting the health of millions. In Bihar state capital Patna, pollution is taking a significant toll on public health with the city witnessing a rise in lung disease cases. […]
Bihar
Lymphatic filariasis: Can India eliminate it?
At the beginning of October, the island nation of Kiribati announced that it had eliminated lymphatic filariasis. By 2021, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has pledged that India will do the same. What is lymphatic filariasis? Lymphatic filariasis, or elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that attacks the lymphatic system. It is caused […]
Pan masala brands: Centre urged to act
The Centre is under pressure from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to ban certain pan masala brands which contain magnesium carbonate and/or nicotine. Pan masala, a chewing mixture which sometimes contains tobacco, has come under fire across the country. Numerous states have taken steps to ban certain brands. In Rajasthan, state […]
Dengue fever outbreak fears in Bihar
Amidst fears of a dengue fever outbreak in Bihar state capital Patna, the state health department is readying itself. Waterlogged following a period of heavy rainfall, Patna has registered almost 250 dengue cases since September 27th – compared to 409 cases registered between January 1st and September 27th. Across the state, flooding has affected 1,400 […]
Doctors in Bihar: Efforts to increase numbers
![By Ghajinidetails. Ghajinidetails [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/AIIMS_Patna_classes_started_on_September_25%2C2012.jpg)](https://i0.wp.com/www.healthissuesindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/AIIMS_Patna_classes_started_on_September_252012.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1 "Health minister Choubey tells AIIMS doctors to turn Bihar patients away")
Efforts are underway to increase the number of doctors in Bihar to address its shortage, with both the National Health Mission (NHM) and the state government taking steps to plug the gap. The state health department is aiming to recruit 2,425 doctors to staff government hospitals, as the state’s public health infrastructure grapples with a […]
The monsoon season may officially be over – but rains continue to hit hard
India’s monsoon season officially ended on September 30th, but heavy rains continue to batter large portions of the country leaving death and destruction in their wake. Rainfall due to the extended monsoon season reached a 25-year high, with scores of people losing their lives. At the time of writing, heavy rains have killed 148 people […]
Doctor absenteeism: Still a problem in public hospitals
A recent case in Bihar saw a staggering 194 medicos disciplined after they were not present during a Medical Council of India (MCI) inspection – casting a spotlight again on the issue of doctor absenteeism in India. The MCI was inspecting a number of medical colleges in the state in which a number of staff […]
State of nutrition: A reality check for India’s worst-performing states
As India observes Poshan Maah – National Nutrition Month – Health Issues India focuses on two Indian states with the worst state of nutrition deficiency in the country. Recently, a journalist was booked by the Uttar Pradesh government for “maligning the image of the state government” after he uncovering uncovered the state government’s ostensible apathy […]
Ayushman Bharat: High-value claims increase
High-value claims made by Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries are increasing, reports say. The scheme – officially the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) – offers insurance coverage to economically vulnerable families of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. Estimates project that, by the end of the year, high-value claims (those over Rs 30,000) will […]
Health benefits of breastfeeding: Health Ministry to raise awareness
World Breastfeeding Week may be over for the rest of the world, but the Union Health Ministry has announced plans to make it a monthly fixture in India to raise awareness of the health benefits of breastfeeding. During an event last week, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan announced that a breastfeeding awareness week will […]