Health

New Delhi, Sep 18 (IANS) Patient safety cannot be the responsibility of a single programme or department and needs to be embedded across the health system, particularly in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of noncommunicable diseases, a senior government official has said.Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director (NHM), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening patient safety, improving quality of care and building safer health systems across the country. The ministry, commemorated the ‘World Patient Safety Day 2026’ with the theme “Safe Care for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs)”. Addressing the gathering, Patnaik said that nearly 63 per cent of all deaths in India are attributed to NCDs, maki...

New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS) The government on Thursday said it has proposed amendments to strengthen regulatory oversight over Schedule H, H1 and X drugs, along with recommending mandatory CCTV surveillance at medical stores as an additional regulatory safeguard.Health Ministry proposed amendments to the “Drugs Rules, 1945,” through a draft gazette notification dated September 8. The proposed amendment seeks to address concerns relating to unauthorised access to and sale of Schedule H, H1 and X drugs.After implementation, the amendments are expected to help strengthen monitoring of the sale and distribution of Schedule H, H1 and X drugs and curb their unauthorised access and sale without valid prescriptions.“The proposed CCTV surveillance mechanism will also enhance transparency and accountab...

Seoul, Sep 16 (IANS) The government on Wednesday announced plans to formally allow the use of abortion pills by women up to nine weeks pregnant, as related regulations remain unrevised following the Constitutional Court's 2019 striking down of the abortion ban.The ministries of gender equality, health and food and drug safety reported the plans at a government policy coordination meeting, noting the institutional vacuum has created risks to women's health and safety.Under the plan, abortion pills will be introduced in phases, with both prescription and dispensing taking place directly at hospitals for the first two years, reports Yonhap news agency.When necessary conditions are fulfilled, the system will shift to doctors prescribing and pharmacies dispensing.The food and drug safety minist...

New Delhi, Sep 15 (IANS) Bangladesh is grappling with a severe measles outbreak that has killed over 1,000 people since mid‑March, exposing immunity gaps after years of declining routine vaccination coverage and disruptions to immunisation services, a new report has said.The report from Al Jazeera cited health ministry data showing 1,009 deaths by September 9, including 100 laboratory‑confirmed measles fatalities and 909 classified as suspected measles deaths.Authorities said 19.75 million children have been vaccinated in an emergency campaign that began in April, against an initial target of about 18 million children aged six months to under five years.However, public health experts said that the original estimate of the children needing vaccines was too low.Further, the national coverage...

New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited for mis-selling a life insurance policy to an 88-year-old customer.The regulator found several lapses in the sale of a deferred annuity policy, including deficiencies related to product suitability, solicitation, disclosures and the insurer’s internal controls.The regulatory proceedings were initiated after IRDAI took suo motu cognizance of a social media post highlighting the sale of the policy to the senior citizen. The policy carried an annual premium of Rs 2 lakh payable for four years and was sold through Canara Bank, the insurer’s corporate agent. The customer’s daughter was named as the annuitant under the poli...

New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) India has crossed a significant milestone in its efforts to prevent cervical cancer, with over 80 lakh doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine administered under the National HPV Vaccination Campaign since its launch in February 2026, an official statement said on Friday.Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram have achieved 100 per cent coverage of their respective identified target populations, the statement from Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Assam have crossed 90 per cent coverage, while Karnataka has achieved more than 85 per cent coverage. Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Kerala, Telangana and Odisha have crossed 60 per cent coverage.The nationwide drive, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2026, offer...

New Delhi, Sep 9 (IANS) Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav has emphasised the need for coordinated efforts by the Centre, states and Union Territories (UTs) to expand the reach and impact of Ayush systems, according to an official statement released on Wednesday.He called for greater focus on quality, accessibility, and people-centric delivery of Ayush healthcare services to address the evolving health needs of the population.Speaking at a national workshop organised by NITI Aayog in Hyderabad, Jadhav called upon states and UTs to strengthen the delivery of accessible, people-centric and quality Ayush services across the country.It brought together senior officials from the Central Government, more than 30 states and Union Territories, and experts from various organisations to deliberate on s...

Bengaluru, Sep 8 (IANS) The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration has seized expired and misbranded food products and medicines worth more than Rs 1.4 crore during a special enforcement drive conducted at food storage and supply units in Bengaluru, an official statement said on Tuesday.The inspections were carried out under the guidance of Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader by designated officers and Food Safety Officers under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.The department said the inspections focused on mandatory labelling requirements, manufacturing and expiry dates, shelf-life, and other food safety standards applicable to products sold through online and e-commerce platforms. ...

Srinagar, Sep 8 (IANS) The hunger strike by J&K medical interns demanding an increase in their monthly stipend entered its second day on Tuesday as the protesters said their protest would continue till a formal government order is issued.People's Democratic Party's Budgam MLA Syed Aga Muntazir Mehdi joined the protesting interns, telling reporters that the continuing protest by the medical interns indicates that the priorities of the UT government are misplaced.The interns, who have been protesting for over a week, are demanding an increase in their monthly stipend from Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000. They have maintained that the agitation will continue until the government issues a written order on the demand.The protesting interns said despite a manifold increase in the cost of living, thei...

Surat, Sep 6 (IANS) A 37-year-old Surat resident has received a new lease of life after undergoing a free heart transplant at Ahmedabad’s U.N. Mehta Heart Hospital, following efforts by state Health Minister Praful Pansheriya and the hospital’s transplant team.Kishan Pethani, originally from Amreli and now living in Surat, had been suffering from a serious heart condition for nearly two years. His condition deteriorated despite treatment in Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Surat, including the insertion of two stents at a private hospital in Surat.Doctors eventually advised that a heart transplant was his only option. According to Kishan, his financial condition made the prospect of a transplant particularly difficult.He approached Pansheriya, explaining his medical condition and financial circumst...