Multiple Indian states are witnessing an increase in their number of breast cancer cases according to recent data, suggesting an uptick in rates of one of the major public health threats to Indian women. As previously reported by Health Issues India, “breast cancer… is the most common type of cancer among Indian women and, together […]
Kerala
Strict action against absentee doctors in Kerala
Doctors who are absent without leave in Kerala have been served an ultimatum: return to work, or face termination. The instruction was delivered by state health minister K. K. Shailaja earlier this week, as she exhorted absentee medicos in the state to resume their posts by Sunday or else be fired. This warning was issued […]
Kerala’s startups touted for their role in cancer care
Health minister K. K. Shailaja has emphasised the importance of Kerala’s startups in the state’s healthcare system. Speaking at a symposium jointly organised by the Cochin Cancer Research Centre and Kerala Startup Mission, Shailaja touted the role of Kerala’s startups in care for diseases such as cancer. “We at the ministry keep getting requests for […]
Kerala doctors to work on boosting access to health in rural areas
The Kerala chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) is working to expand access to healthcare in rural areas of the state. Around sixty percent of doctors in India work in urban areas, despite seventy percent of the population living in rural areas. Although Kerala is one of the most highly-ranked states on health parameters […]
India’s best states for child welfare
Kerala is the best-performing state in India when it comes to child welfare, whilst Madhya Pradesh is the worst. This is according to the Child Well-being Index, a joint report by World Vision India and IFMR LEAD, unveiled yesterday Kerala secured the top spot with an overall score of 0.76, followed by Tamil Nadu and […]
Floods in Kerala kill 111, lakhs displaced
Floods continue to ravage Kerala where the death toll has crossed 100. At the time of writing, 111 fatalities have been reported with the Malappuram district being the worst-affected. The floods have led to mass displacement. More than 2.27 lakh people are being sheltered in 1,551 relief camps. Excess rainfall during the monsoon season triggered […]
Medicines for water-borne disease in flood-ravaged Thane
Maharashtra’s Thane district has been battling heavy rainfall in recent weeks, causing floods and leaving it vulnerable to the spread of water-borne disease. To guard against such infections, officials have been distributing medicines – an effort which has reached more than 60,000 people. The state has been beleaguered by intense flooding amidst heavy monsoon rainfall. […]
E-cigarette industry appeals against potential ban
The e-cigarette industry has appealed against the proposed ban on the devices, calling on regulation instead of outright prohibition. With the Centre in position to initiate a blanket ban on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) by classifying them under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, the Trade Representatives of ENDS in India (TRENDS), an association of […]
Dengue data: Government claims versus reality
Is India mishandling its dengue data concerning deaths from the disease? The latest report by The Lancet claims there is a mismatch between the numbers from its study and the ones reported by India to the World Health Organization (WHO). The mosquito-borne tropical disease – which the WHO considers the world’s fastest-growing mosquito-borne disease and […]
Nipah virus: Kerala declares Victory
Kerala has declared victory against the Nipah virus once again , with the state’s sole patient being discharged from hospital. A potential resurgence of the Nipah virus was announced earlier this year with the news that a 23-year-old man in the Ernakulam district had tested positive for the disease. The Nipah virus made headlines in […]