The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that nearly 15 million people—about one in every 500 globally—died from causes related to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021 (the first two years of the pandemic), putting the toll from COVID-19 at nearly three times the number that had been officially recorded by countries. India suffered […]
WHO
India and WHO clash over COVID-19 death figures
Following a visit from Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), the WHO and the Indian Government have been at odds over the official death toll of COVID-19. India’s official death toll places the figure at 520,000, however, the WHO has cited studies that suggest the figure could be as high […]
EU putting weight behind Ethiopia’s Tedros for second WHO DG term
Tedros 2.0? German government sources told Reuters on 23 September that Berlin would officially nominate Tedros as the Director General (DG) of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the second time around and was seeking support from other European Union (EU) member states. At least 17 EU states have said they would also submit his […]
WHO releases report on AI in healthcare
A recent World Health Organization (WHO) press release has revealed a set of key principles for determining how best to utilise artificial intelligence (AI) within the context of healthcare, along with the challenges it may present. The report, “Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health”, is the result of two years of consultations held […]
Pandemic preparation: a wake up call
Amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for countries across the globe to step up preparations for future pandemics during its 73rd World Health Assembly. The WHO noted that “the COVID-19 pandemic is a sobering reminder that health is the foundation of social, economic and political stability”. Prospects in […]
Air pollution action needed: WHO official
As a report reveals the sizeable death toll due to air pollution in India, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) official has urged the country to take action on it. “Urgent action” is required to address pollution, according to Dr Maria Neira, director of the WHO Department of Public Health, Environment and Social Determinants of […]
Vardhan promotes fitness at WHO meeting
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan took the opportunity of a World Health Organization (WHO) meeting to lead by example concerning fitness. The session of WHO Southeast Asia Region (WHO-SEARO) nations saw them make a commitment to collaborate in tackling emerging diseases and other public health challenges such as child health, maternal mortality, the respective […]
Asia and WHO collaborate on emerging diseases
A large-scale collaboration has been announced between a number of Southeast Asian nations and the World Health Organization (WHO) in order to address the issue of emerging diseases. India, along with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepala, North Korea, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, have come together under the World Health Organization – South East […]
The leprosy capital of the world
India is officially the leprosy capital of the world according to the World Health Organization (WHO); they estimate that 66 percent of all the world’s leprosy patients now reside in the country. Such news comes as a blow to India’s prior announcement — dating back to 2005 — of the elimination of leprosy. An estimated […]
Curbing high blood pressure by 2025
In an ambitious campaign to reduce instance of high blood pressure, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched the India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI), covering 25 districts across five states. The 25 districts are only the beginning of the campaign: the ICMR intends to expand the initiative […]