• The 2025 Lancet report highlights the significant health impact of climate inaction, which has led to heat-related deaths rising by 23% since the 1990s, with 546,000 deaths annually.

• Extreme heat conditions have led to increased food insecurity affecting 124 million people and financial losses from heat exposure amounting to $1.35 trillion.

• It contrasts climate finance and fossil fuel spending, highlighting that governments spent $956 billion on fossil fuel subsidies in 2023, surpassing their climate support commitments and exceeding the health budgets of 15 countries.

• Furthermore, the advantages of addressing climate change are evident, with 160,000 premature deaths avoided from reduced coal pollution and 16 million jobs supported by renewable energy.

• The health sector has seen a 16% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and many WHO Member States have developed adaptation plans.

• Looking forward to COP30, WHO aims to publish a report emphasizing that addressing climate change offers a critical opportunity to improve health and save over 10 million lives annually, advocating for the phasing out of fossil fuels and promoting sustainable agriculture.

• In 2023, fossil fuel subsidies amounted to $956 billion. Transitioning to sustainable agriculture and renewable energy could prevent over 10 million deaths annually.

On October 23, 2025, India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) introduced three specialized training modules designed to enhance the nation's ability to handle chemical emergencies. These modules, crafted by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in partnership with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and with technical assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO) India, focus on: (1) Preparedness, Surveillance & Response, (2) Pre-Hospital Management, and (3) Medical Management of Chemical Emergencies. Aimed at public health professionals, emergency responders, healthcare workers, and policymakers, these resources support the core capacities required by the International Health Regulations (2005). The launch event, held at Nirman Bhavan in New Delhi, gathered senior officials from various ministries, academia, industry, and international partners to reaffirm India's dedication to establishing a robust and self-sufficient health emergency response system.

The introduction of these training modules boosts India's readiness for chemical emergencies by enabling quicker detection, a coordinated response, and a decrease in illness and death rates. This initiative bolsters national health security and aids in adhering to the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), thereby enhancing the resilience of the public health system.

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• The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the National Health Emergency Alert and Response Framework, a comprehensive guide to strengthen national emergency preparedness.

• It consolidates over 300 recommendations from the COVID-19 pandemic into the Health Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (HEPR) architecture.

• The framework outlines all emergency stages—from detection and notification to response and review—and provides practical tools, such as checklists.

• It incorporates the 7-1-7 performance target: 7 days to detect an outbreak, 1 day to notify authorities, and 7 days to implement initial control measures.

• Aimed at government authorities, the guide addresses the growing threats posed by climate change, urbanization, and geopolitical instability.

This framework provides a critical, standardized toolkit for nations to accelerate and coordinate their response to health emergencies, potentially reducing morbidity and mortality during future crises by ensuring a faster, more efficient, and evidence-based reaction.

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Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR):

• Definition: Number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births during a given year.

• Latest Available Estimate  (SRS Special Bulletin on MMR September 2025):

  • India: 88 per 100,000 live births

  • Declined from 130 (2014–16), 103 (2017-19), 93 (2019-21)

• State Variations:

  • Lowest: Kerala – 30

  • Highest: Odisha – 153

• Trend: Continuous decline over the last decade, showing significant progress toward SDG target of <70 by 2030.

Perinatal Mortality Rate (PMR):

• Definition: Number of stillbirths and early neonatal deaths (<7 days) per 1,000 total births (live births + stillbirths).

• India (2023):

  • Total: 21 per 1,000 total births

  • Rural: 23

  • Urban: 15

• Components:

  • Still Birth Rate: 7 per 1,000 total births

  • Early Neonatal Mortality Rate: 13 per 1,000 live births

• Trend (2013–2023): Declined from ~28 to 21 (↓25% over a decade).

• Highest: Chhattisgarh (31), Madhya Pradesh (30), Uttar Pradesh (29)

• Lowest: Kerala (8), Manipur (9), Tamil Nadu (10)

Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR):

• Definition: Number of deaths of infants aged <28 days per 1,000 live births.

• India (2023):

  • Total: 19 per 1,000 live births

  • Rural: 21

  • Urban: 13

• Trend (2018–2023): Declined from 23 to 19, showing a fall of 4 points in five years.

• Share of neonatal deaths among all infant deaths: ~73%, indicating that the majority of infant deaths occur within the first month of life.

• Highest: Madhya Pradesh (27)

• Lowest: Kerala (4)

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR):

• Definition: Number of deaths of infants (<1 year) per 1,000 live births in a given year.

• India (2023):

  • Total: 25 per 1,000 live births

  • Rural: 28

  • Urban: 18

• Trend:

  • Declined from 40 (2013) → 25 (2023) (↓37.5%).

  • Decline from 32 (2018) → 25 (2023) (↓7 points in 5 years).

• Highest: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh – 37

• Lowest: Kerala – 5; Manipur – 3

• Observation: Despite progress, one in every 40 infants nationally, and one in every 36 rural infants, dies before completing the first year of life.

Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR):

• Definition: Probability (per 1,000 live births) that a child will die before reaching the age of 5 years, given current age-specific mortality rates.

• India (2023):

  • Total: 29 per 1,000 live births

  • Rural: 33

  • Urban: 20

• Trend: Declined from 45 (2013) → 29 (2023) (↓36% over the decade).

  • Decline of 1 point over the previous year (2022: 30 → 2023: 29).

• Highest: Madhya Pradesh (44)

• Lowest: Kerala (8)

• Observation: Reduction achieved through better child survival interventions, though rural–urban and inter-state disparities persist.

Overall Progress:
India has shown consistent and significant decline across all major mortality indicators over the last decade, reflecting sustained efforts in maternal and child health through programmes like RMNCH+A, LaQshya, JSY, JSSK, NHM  and facility-based newborn care (FBNC).

Critical Areas for Strengthening:

High neonatal and perinatal mortality indicate gaps in intrapartum and immediate newborn care.Persisting rural–urban and inter-state disparities call for equitable healthcare access and resource allocation in high-burden states (Assam, Odisha,Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh). Maternal deaths remain concentrated in states with weak referral systems and poor quality obstetric care.

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prohibited all drinks from naming themselves as "ORS" (Oral Rehydration Solution) unless they adhere to the WHO-recommended formulation strictly.

• The move is to stop misleading and deceptive labeling, since most such products with the label "ORS" fail to achieve the needed electrolyte proportion and come with a higher amount of sugar.

• FSSAI has revoked its previous relaxations dated July 2022 and February 2024, permitting the use of the term, subject to disclaimers.

• Use of the term "ORS" in any manner, prefix, suffix, or trademark, will henceforth amount to misbranding and misleading advertising under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

• The Delhi High Court has granted an interim stay over portions of the prohibition, enabling the restricted sale of current stock pending continuation of legal proceedings, and clarified that its interim order was not a green light for fresh manufacture of such products.

The order is a welcome step toward preventing misleading marketing practices that hinder the appropriate management of diarrhea. Its effective implementation and strict compliance will require close supervision and regular audits by the FSSAI.

• In the gazette notification released on September 15, 2025, the Dept. of Social Welfare announced the scheme “Financial Assistance Scheme for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities having High Support Needs”:

• Eligible beneficiaries include persons with at least 40% disability (as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016) who require substantial physical or psychological assistance to access healthcare and to participate fully in education, employment, and community life.

• Once a person qualifies for the eligibility norms, Rs 6000 will be transferred directly to the receiver’s Aadhar-linked bank account.

• This aid is in addition to the pre-existing pension scheme under the Delhi government, which grants persons with benchmark disability a monthly aid of Rs 2,500. This scheme has over 1.5 lakh registered beneficiaries.

This scheme seeks to enhance the welfare, independence, and dignity of not only persons with benchmark disabilities requiring high support, but also their families, who often bear a greater burden of illness, healthcare expenses, and rehabilitation. The assistance is intended to offset the financial burden associated with caregiver support, healthcare, counselling, and rehabilitation services.

• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has linked metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions including obesity, high blood sugar, hypertension, and abnormal cholesterol with a significantly higher risk of gynaecological cancers among women.

• Published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, the meta-analysis reviewed over 30 global studies and found that women with metabolic syndrome face nearly three times higher risk of ovarian cancer and about twice the risk of uterine or endometrial cancer. While associations with cervical and vulvar cancers were less conclusive, the trend remains concerning.

• The findings highlight an urgent public-health message: Metabolic Health is Women’s Health.

• In India, where urbanisation, sedentary lifestyles, and unhealthy diets have driven a steady rise in obesity and Type 2 diabetes among women, the study reinforces the need to view these conditions not just as cardiovascular risks, but as potential cancer precursors.

• Experts note that the biological links are plausible i.e. insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and hormonal imbalance associated with metabolic syndrome may trigger pathways that promote cancer growth.

• The study also underscores a critical research gap: none of the high-quality cohort studies included were from India, despite the country’s growing metabolic disease burden. This points to a missed opportunity for indigenous data to guide prevention and screening policies.

Community-based screening for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) could integrate cancer risk education for women with metabolic syndrome. Lifestyle modification, weight control, & glycaemic management should be seen as tools for dual prevention reducing both NCD and cancer risk.

Metabolic syndrome is a potential red alert for women’s cancer risk. Bridging the evidence gap in Indian women and integrating metabolic screening with cancer prevention could be the next step in women-centred public health policy.

The Ministry of Environment has officially issued the Environment Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules, 2025, creating a legal system for identifying and cleaning up sites contaminated with chemicals under the Environment Protection Act.

Key points:

• First legal framework: India's first specific legal framework for the management of chemically polluted areas.

• Identification process: Local authorities are required to report suspected contaminated areas every six months.

• Time-bound assessment:A preliminary evaluation must be finished by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) in ninety days, and if necessary, a comprehensive assessment must be finished in ninety days.

• Official notification: If contamination from one of the 189 listed hazardous chemicals is confirmed, the site is officially declared contaminated and made public.

• ‘Polluter pays’ principle: The responsible party must cover the cost of cleanup. If the polluter cannot be identified or is unable to pay, the cost is shared between the central and state governments.

• Criminal liability: In cases where health or environmental harm occurs, individuals or entities may be charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Transparency and accountability: Publicly disclosing contaminated sites helps raise awareness and enables community supervision.

• The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board has reported that groundwater is not fit for drinking in 25 villages under the Chennimalai Panchayat Union in Erode district. Officials attributed the contamination to pollutants in local water sources and stated that measures are being planned to ensure a safe supply to the affected areas.

• Tests revealed contamination, raising health concerns among residents who depend on wells and borewells for daily needs.

• Meanwhile, environmental groups have pointed to industrial discharge from the nearby SIPCOT complex as a possible cause.

• The affected areas were identified, and officials were directed to place red warning boards, discontinue the use of motors at those sites, and ensure that residents receive drinking water solely through the Combined Water Supply Scheme (CWSS).

• Officials have assured that alternative water supply measures will be arranged while long-term solutions are being planned.

On July 25, Union Minister Anupriya Patel informed the Lok Sabha that chikungunya cases in Telangana rose sharply — 1,588 cases (Jan–Jun 2025) vs. 170 in 2024 — based on Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) reporting.

Reason for Increase: The Centre explained that higher numbers partly reflect enhanced surveillance and digital paperless reporting on IHIP in 2025 as opposed to conventional reporting methods used in 2024.

Telangana’s Response: The Directorate of Public Health (DPH) has contested the Centre’s figures, reporting only ~240 cases that are said to be “effectively controlled.” The state has also raised concerns about the accuracy of data presented in Parliament by the Union government.

Seasonal Peak: Both Centre and State agree that cases typically surge during monsoon months (August–September), reflecting a seasonal trend despite numerical differences.

• Blenrep (belantamib maphodotin-BLMM), a humanized monoclonal antibody from GlaxoSmithKline, has been approved in the EU for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

• Already authorized in the UK and Japan, it is under extended review in the US.
  Approval follows positive results from the DREAMM-7 and DREAMM-8 trials conducted in patients with relapsed or refractory Multiple myeloma.

• Multiple myeloma, the second most common hematological malignancy, was historically considered incurable. However, with the introduction of targeted small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies median survival rate now stands at 10 years

• Blenrep builds on these advances to address relapse and resistance.

A Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) carried out at the German Trias i Pujol Hospital in Barcelona used genomic data collected from 33 groups across 19 countries globally to identify genetic risk factors that could contribute to long COVID. The following were the salient findings -

• The study looked for single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with Long Covid. After analysing data from 6450 cases with 1 million population controls, they identified the FOXP4 gene. This association was reconfirmed in a separate cohort of 9500 cases against 8,00,000 controls.

• The ‘C’ variant of the rs9367106 chromosomal region near the gene led to a 63% higher chance in people of having long COVID symptoms than those without the gene.

• The gene increased the risk of long COVID in patients who were not hospitalised. This indicated that the severity of the initial infection was also not tied to it. It was also more common among East Asian populations.

• The gene was active in lung tissue, especially in type 2 alveolar cells. Thus, it helped influence the lung’s ability to respond to infection and injury.

• After analysing data from blood samples of people who had recovered from the initial infection, it was seen that having moderately higher levels of the FOXP4 gene doubled the odds of developing long COVID.

• Using co-localisation analysis, there was a 91% chance that the same genetic signal affected FOXP4 activity and the chance of developing long COVID.

There was a lack of South Asian representation in the data used for the study. Therefore, its interpretation in an Indian context was limited. The GenomeIndia Project contains a large amount of genomic data, which could support future studies into long covid in an Indian scenario

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