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 – […]
noncommunicable diseases
World Health Day in a time of crisis
Today marks World Health Day – an observance the world marks this year in the context of the global pandemic of coronavirus. Cases of COVID-19 – the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or coronavirus – are rising sharply globally. India has reported thousands of infections and well in excess of […]
“Toxic air” – The price we pay for pollution
A recently unveiled report has calculated the cost of air pollution due to fossil fuels, pegging it at US$2.9 trillion a year – equivalent to 3.3 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP) lost to toxic air. The cost of toxic air as a result of fossil fuels translates to US$8 billion – a […]
Cancer: One in ten Indians, one in fifteen lives
Cancer will affect one in ten Indians in their lifetime. One in fifteen Indians will lose their lives to the disease. These are the concerning findings of the latest edition of the World Cancer Report, published earlier this week by the World Health Organization (WHO). Among the key takeaways of the report is how unevenly […]
From the beginning of suffering to the end: Dr M. R. Rajagopal on the importance of palliative care
At a time when noncommunicable diseases, often chronic in nature, are increasing and India’s population is ageing, there is an increased need for palliative care – but the field is often neglected in the country. Health Issues India spoke to Dr M. R. Ragagopal, founder and chairman of Pallium India, about the challenges facing access […]
World Diabetes Day: India’s growing crisis
Some regard India to be the diabetes capital of the world, its diabetic population outweighing the entire population of some nations. With November 14th marking World Diabetes Day, it provides an opportunity for India to appraise its diabetes crisis. According to the International Diabetes Federation, diabetes affects 8.8 percent of India’s adult population with 72,946,400 […]
Junk food in schools off the menu
Soon, junk food will no longer be sold in schools. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has moved to prohibit the sale of junk food in school canteens against the backdrop of a growing crisis of childhood obesity in the country. By 2030, India is expected to be home to 27 million […]
National Health Profile 2019: The main takeaways
Life expectancy has increased, but noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and infectious diseases continue to take a toll and access to healthcare is far from equitable across the country. This is according to the latest National Health Profile released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare earlier this week. “A healthy India is no longer […]
India’s growing crisis of obesity
India is battling a full-blown crisis of obesity, one which is anticipated only to worsen in the years to come. More than 135 million Indians are affected by obesity, according to a study published earlier this year. Meanwhile, research indicates that the condition no longer strictly discriminates along class lines. “We found evidence suggesting it […]
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Lessons for India
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Telangana state capital Hyderabad commemorated the observance by illuminating monuments and other sites in pink – reflecting the colour of the ribbon which serves as the symbol for the event. “Breast Cancer Awareness Month…helps to increase attention and support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as well […]