Operation AMRITH to combat Antimicrobial Resistance Operation AMRITH to combat Antimicrobial Resistance Content Editor: Dr. Pradipta March 6, 2024 Kerala Government web portal Antimicrobial resistance, Public Health Initiatives Kerala has initiated Operation AMRITH which stands for "Antimicrobial Resistance Intervention for Total Health to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)" by enforcing the H1 rule, requiring a doctor's prescription for all classes of antibiotics. The public is encouraged to report any instances of pharmacies providing antibiotics without a prescription and pharmacies are required to display posters emphasizing the requirement of a prescription. This step is facilitated by Kerala's high doctor-patient ratio and literacy rate, which promotes compliance. However, the impact of this initiative on drug-resistant infections may take years to materialize. Overprescription persists due to inadequate diagnosis and patient pressure. Kerala also emphasizes disclosing hospital-acquired infection rates and improving infection prevention standards. Further measures include: Rationalizing antibiotic use Banning growth-promotional antibiotics Supporting new antibiotic development is crucial

Health Minister Monitors Progress on TB, Measles-Rubella Elimination and PM-ABHIM Implementation Health Minister Monitors Progress on TB, Measles-Rubella Elimination and PM-ABHIM Implementation Content Editor: Dr. Anamika June 13, 2025 Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare TB-Mukt Bharat, Measles-Rubella elimination, PM-ABHIM On May 30, 2025 , the Union Health Minister convened high-level meetings with Health Ministers from six States/UTs to assess progress on TB and Measles–Rubella elimination and evaluate fund utilization under PM‑ABHIM and the 15th Finance Commission. The 100-day TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan screened 12.97 crore individuals, detecting over 7.19 lakh TB cases—including 2.85 lakh asymptomatic. Emphasis was placed on expanding NAAT testing , engaging vulnerable groups (e.g., migrants, slum dwellers, HIV patients, alcoholics), and enhancing nutritional support via Ni‑kshay Poshan and Ni-kshay Mitra. He urged states to bring TB incidence below 47 per lakh and mortality under 3 per lakh and strengthen immunization to eliminate measles–rubella. Health Minister Monitors Progress on TB, Measles-Rubella Elimination and PM-ABHIM Implementation

NMC's guide to professional conduct in e-book form NMC's guide to professional conduct in e-book form Content Editor: Dr Urmimala Maiti October 20, 2023 National Medical Commission Medical Ethics, Professional Conduct The National Medical Commission has launched an e-book on "Professional Conduct Review" based on case reports. Some of the aspects addressed by the book include: Good Doctor-patient relationship and The importance of skills and competence in eliminating communication gaps Prioritizing proper documentation of history and examination findings to avoid medical negligence Not claiming to be a specialist unless he/she possesses the required qualifications. Regulations on the signboard state that it should not be unusually large, put upon a chemist shop where he does not work or stay The signboard shouldn't contain any information other than- name, qualification/ degree earned at a university, name of the specialty, and registration number of the state medical council. The document also contains information on ethical guidelines for research and the role of informed consent.

Public Health Daily News Snippets WHO Bulletin Releases Special Edition on Traditional Medicine Ahead of Global Summit The WHO Bulletin published its first special issue on traditional medicine since 1977, featuring research and policy analyses. This release precedes the 2nd WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine scheduled for December 2025 in New Delhi. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Global Health, Traditional Medicine Integration Read More Global Summit in Geneva Intensified Efforts to Curb Toxic Mercury Pollution A major international conference was held in Geneva from 3rd to 7th November 2025 to strengthen the global fight against mercury pollution . Delegates collaborated to accelerate the phase-out of this toxic metal from products and industrial processes, aiming to protect human health and the environment. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : United Nations Environmental Health, International Policy Read More Fitness & Nation-Building: Insights from the National Fitness & Wellness Conclave 2025 The first-ever National Fitness & Wellness Conclave 2025 in Mumbai brought together policymakers, athletes, and industry leaders to reaffirm one message: India’s progress towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047 depends on how seriously we take fitness today. With icons from sports and cinema joining the conversation, the conclave highlighted fitness as both a cultural shift and a public health necessity. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fit India Movement, Physical Activity, Non-Communicable Diseases, Viksit Bharat Read More Global Evidence Review of the Inequality- Pandemic Cycle: UNAIDS report The UNAIDS established the “Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemic ” in 2023. Its report “Breaking the inequality-pandemic cycle ” released in November 2025 is based on evidence from more than 1500 peer-reviewed literature and reports from government agencies and research institutions across multiple pandemics and its own empirical studies over the past 2 years. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 2025 Pandemic preparedness, Social inequality, Global Health Read More Decomposition Analysis of Factors Driving Global Maternal Mortality Reduction A new Lancet Global Health paper highlights evidence that combining family planning with quality maternity services has driven a 41% global decline in maternal deaths since 2000. The study shows how contraception alone prevented more than 77,000 maternal deaths in 2023. Published on : Friday, November 28, 2025 Source : The Lancet Global Health Maternal Health, Reproductive & Sexual Health, Gender Equality, Family Planning, Declining Global Maternal Mortality Read More Delhi’s Air Quality Sees Noticeable Improvement: CAQM 2025 Report The 2025 update from the C ommission for A ir Q uality M anagement (CAQM ) highlights significant enhancements in Delhi's air quality and a marked reduction in stubble-burning incidents in nearby states. The report offers data-backed evidence of collaborative efforts to reduce pollution through the use of cleaner fuels, improved waste management, and more stringent regulatory measures. Published on : Tuesday, November 18, 2025 Source : Press Information Bureau, New Delhi Air Pollution, Environmental Health, Public Health Policy Read More Genomic Collaboration for a Safer Future: India and Italy Unite for Pandemic Preparedness The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) round table in New Delhi emphasized the power of genomic research and collaboration in strengthening pandemic preparedness. Experts called for sustained global surveillance and rapid translation of genomic data to safeguard public health. Published on : Friday, November 14, 2025 Source : Press Information Bureau, New Delhi Genomic Surveillance, Pandemic Readiness Read More WHO Unveils Global Agenda to Strengthen Paediatric Clinical Trials The World Health Organization has unveiled a new global research agenda to close gaps in evidence on child health. It prioritizes equitable, high-impact paediatric trials to ensure that treatments for children are safe, effective, and grounded in sound science. Published on : Friday, November 14, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Health Research, Pediatric Health, Clinical Trials Read More WHO refutes Tylenol-Autism Link: Urges Evidence-Based Care A statement by the current US President, which linked Tylenol use during pregnancy to autism, prompted an immediate response from the World Health Organization. The WHO clarified that no scientific evidence supports this claim and urged reliance on medical guidance. Published on : Friday, November 14, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Maternal and Child Health, Health Communication, Global Health Governance Read More 2025 Lancet Countdown Report on Climate Change and Health Impacts of climate inaction have led to a 23% increase in heat-related deaths since the 1990s. Food insecurity affected 124 million more people due to extreme weather in 2023, with losses reaching $1.35 trillion. Addressing climate change has prevented 160,000 premature deaths from coal pollution and supported 16 million jobs in renewable energy. With COP30 ahead, WHO, along with member states, plans to emphasize climate action and a swift transition away from fossil fuels. Published on : Friday, November 7, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Climate change, food insecurity, Sustainability Read More WHO Introduces New Global Framework to Enhance National Health Emergency Response The World Health Organization has unveiled a new global guide, the National Health Emergency Alert and Response Framework, to bolster countries' readiness for health crises. Developed from lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, it provides a standardized approach for managing emergencies. Published on : Friday, November 7, 2025 Source : World Health Organization Global Health Security, Emergency Preparedness Read More Training Modules to Strengthen Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Response in India The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced three specialized training modules to enhance India’s capacity for managing chemical emergencies. This initiative aims to build a skilled, coordinated response system across healthcare and disaster management sectors. Published on : Friday, November 7, 2025 Source : PIB Delhi Chemical Emergencies Preparedness, IHR, Disaster management Read More Daily News Snippets Monthly Archives 01-10 February, 2024 View More 14-20 January, 2024 View More 19-25th November, 2024 (26) View More 23-31stOctober, 2023 (18) View More 28-31 January, 2024 View More 7-13 January, 2024 View More 5-11th November, 2023 (5) View More 15-21st October, 2023 (12) View More 21-27 January, 2024 View More 26-30th November, 2024 (20) View More 01-04th November, 2023(4) View More 08-14th October, 2023 (5) View More March 27 - 31, 2023 (15) View More March 6 - 12, 2023 (24) View More February 23 - 25, 2023 (3) View More February 15 - 16, 2023 (8) View More March 20 - 25, 2023 (18) View More March 1 - 5, 2023 (8) View More February 20 - 22, 2023 (2) View More February 07 - 14, 2023 (5) View More March 13 - 18, 2023 (8) View More February 26 - 28, 2023 (15) View More February 17 - 19, 2023 (3) View More February 01 - 06, 2023 (5) View More Subscribe to get Latest Public Health Updates SUBSCRIBE

Gene Regulation Sheds Light on Tumor Progression Gene Regulation Sheds Light on Tumor Progression Content Editor: Dr. Chinmay July 1, 2025 HARVARD T.H. CHAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH Cancer research, International Health News John Quackenbush, Henry Pickering Walcott Professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , is uncovering how gene regulatory networks - not DNA sequence alone- drive cancer progression . In 2012, his team introduced PANDA , a method that “reverse engineers” which of 1,600 regulatory proteins control gene activity by integrating expression data. PANDA revealed the underlying control mechanisms that differentiate healthy from diseased cells. Applying PANDA to colon cancer, they discovered sex-specific regulatory differences: men and women modulate immune responses and drug metabolism differently. These insights have already guided personalized chemotherapy strategies in mouse models. Building on this, Quackenbush developed PHOENIX , which charts how the regulation of all 25,000 human genes shifts as cells progress from normal to malignant . Recognized by the N ational C ancer I nstitute as a 2024 breakthrough , PHOENIX aims to identify regulatory “tipping points” and drugs that can arrest cancer before it fully develops. Quackenbush stresses that these advances and the training of over 100 biomedical scientists via open-source tools - depend on sustained NIH funding. He warns that recent federal grant terminations risk stalling this work and undermining U.S. leadership in computational biology and cancer research.

India’s declining TFR trend- Predictions of a GBD study secondary analysis Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala March 23, 2024 at 2:00:00 PM GBD, Global Burden of Diseases, Fertility, Research Findings The I nstitute for H ealth M etrics and E valuation (IHME) used a forecasting model based on the average number of females born to women belonging to a specific birth cohort, known as “completed cohort fertility at 50 years of age” . The study findings were as follows: The global T otal f ertility r ate (TFR ) declined to half from 1950 to 2021 (4.8 to 2.2). 49 countries are predicted to have fertility rates above replacement levels by 2050 , while 6 will remain so in 2100. India with a TFR of 1.91 in 2021, was projected to decrease to 1.29 in 2050 and 1.04 in 2100 gradually. Projections were made with alternative scenarios and the TFR was reported as (for India): Meeting the SDG target of education by 2030- 1.22 by 2050 No unmet need for contraception as per the SDG target- 1.20 by 2050 Pro-natal policies- 1.49 by 2050 Combining all-1.35 by 2050 The study comes as a warning to the governments to plan their policies accordingly keeping in mind the expected changes in fertility indicators. Click here to read more Previous Next

Factors influencing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in young children: A 2021 survey analysis Content Editor: Dr. Gurumurthy June 13, 2024 at 12:30:00 PM Under 5 nutrition, Processed foods, Nutrition The initial five years are crucial for children's growth and cognitive development , requiring adequate nutrition. The 2020-2025 US Dietary Guidelines recommend that children under two avoid added sugars and that those aged two and older limit their intake to less than 10% of their daily calories. Nonetheless, many US children surpass these recommendations, mainly through the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) such as soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks, and energy drinks. A study conducted using data from the 2021 National Survey of Children’s Health, which is a nationally representative survey, examined SSB consumption among children aged 1 to 5. It revealed that 43% did not consume SSBs, 36% consumed them 1-3 times per week, and 21% consumed them four or more times per week. Higher SSB intake was associated with older age, non-Hispanic Black ethnicity, lower caregiver education, lower household income, Spanish as the primary household language, fewer family meals, living in nonmetropolitan areas, and receiving government food assistance. These findings highlight the necessity for targeted public health strategies to reduce SSB consumption in young children. Interventions should be inclusive, taking into account the sociodemographic and household factors that influence SSB intake, and should aim to support children's optimal growth and development. Click here to read more. Previous Next

Harnessing private sector power for maternal and child health in low-resource settings Harnessing private sector power for maternal and child health in low-resource settings Content Editor: Dr. Kishore February 15, 2024 BMJ Public Health Public-private partnership, Health Policy, Public Health Intervention, Health Equity Public health sectors face limitations in the form of shortage of human resources, inefficient frameworks, and inadequate quality of maternal and child health services. Increasing private sector involvement can improve the quality of maternal and child health services. Utilization of private providers varies high for children's diarrhea and fever(67%), lower for pregnant women's institutional delivery(38%) and antenatal care(30%) . Outpatient care is equally accessed by the poor and wealthy, while the wealthy prefer private inpatient care. High out-of-pocket expenditure, especially for medicines in public facilities. Effective engagement strategies include voluntary or mandatory partnerships at the macro, meso, and micro levels. Key strategies involve financing, regulatory approaches like licensing, and policy development. Intermediary mechanisms include NGOs enhancing private provider service quality and regulatory compliance

CDC's EIS conference: Showcasing breakthroughs in epidemiological research and public health CDC's EIS conference: Showcasing breakthroughs in epidemiological research and public health Content Editor: Dr. Manjeet May 4, 2024 Center for Disease Control Conference, Epidemiology, Surveillance The CDC's annual Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Conference , took place from April 23–26, 2024, in Atlanta, GA, which serves as a premier forum for applied epidemiology. EIS officers, known as the CDC's disease detectives, showcased their investigations, scientific findings, and innovative strategies aimed at enhancing public health. With over a hundred presentations, the conference highlighted the invaluable contributions of EIS officers in addressing emerging health threats, safeguarding communities, and saving lives. The presentations ranged from various topics, but not restricted to, such as: Climate & Health Global health Environmental health HIV & Hepatitis, Respiratory health Occupational health Click here to read more

Peachy nightmare: Listeria lurks in your fruit bowl Peachy nightmare: Listeria lurks in your fruit bowl Content Editor: Dr. Rashmi Verma December 20, 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Listeria Outbreak , listeria infection, Outbreak The FDA is recalling peaches, plums, and nectarines available at various retailers due to possible listeria contamination . The recall encompasses both individually sold nonorganic fruits and those packaged between May 1 and November 15 in 2022 and 2023 , prompting consumers to exercise caution regarding the affected products within this timeframe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listeria epidemic associated with the recalled fruits has caused 11 infections, 10 hospitalizations, and one fatality in seven states in US. The CDC strongly advises people to look through their freezers and refrigerators for any recalled fruit and to return or discard it right away. Consuming the recalled products is not advised . Listeria infections, posing a significant risk to vulnerable groups, exhibit symptoms like fever, muscle aches, and nausea , often emerging within two weeks of consuming contaminated food. Awareness of symptoms is crucial, as onset can range from the same day to ten weeks post-exposure. The CDC advised seeking medical assistance if any signs of a listeria infection are observed.