Introduction of the Ayush Visa: a step forward in boosting our Medical Value Tourism Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy August 8, 2023 at 12:30:00 PM Medical Tourism, Ayush, Traditional Medicine The Govt of India recently introduced a new category of visa known as the Ayush Visa. This visa will be available for foreign nationals who seek treatment under the Indian system of Medicine. It is a part of India’s roadmap for the “Heal in India” initiative. This will help in boosting the Medical Value Travel in India. According to the report “The Global Wellness Economy: Looking beyond COVID”, the global wellness economy is estimated to grow by 9.9% annually. Also, Ayush based economy is estimated to grow by 70 billion by 2025. This initiative will help in making Indian traditional medicine a global phenomenon. Previous Next

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. 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Social media - a new avenue for drug dealing Social media - a new avenue for drug dealing Content Editor: Dr. Manu June 1, 2024 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Substance Abuse, Drug Surveillance, Social media A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a report looking into the use of the dark web and social media for the procurement of drugs. The findings are as follows: - While sales on the dark web have been rising for the past few years, they have seen a decline based on studies in the year 2022 . However, these still outnumber sales at online shops and sales of new psychoactive substances (NPS). Though the number of individual transactions has decreased, the amount per transaction has increased , which might indicate that drugs are being sold wholesale on these platforms. Social media is increasingly becoming attractive as a platform for sale. This is because there is greater privacy, easier access, and less surveillance on these apps . Thus, it is essential to monitor the use of these platforms for the sale of drugs as well. Click here to read more.

Validation of the indigenous HPV testing kits for cervical cancer screening. Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay April 25, 2024 at 2:00:00 PM Cervical cancer, HPV, Screening AIIMS, Delhi, is launching a groundbreaking project to validate made-in-India HPV testing kits for cervical cancer screening. The study will assess kit efficacy using global samples, starting with 1,200 of patients above 30 years of age with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) biorepository in France. Prof Neerja Bhatla, study investigator, emphasized the importance of accurate HPV screening to combat India's high cervical cancer burden and the affordability issue of the kits. The test involves cervical sample collection, similar to a Pap smear for detection . The initial work on indigenous kits began in 2016; now, cheaper, faster kits are developed to improve screening accessibility. The study, lasting three months , aims for credible results to inform national program implementation by year-end. Collaborations have been made with the IARC and other institutes, which will help expedite the sample collection and testing, cutting study time significantly. The importance of validating low-cost HPV tests for the Indian population to enhance cancer detection and control is the need of the hour. Click here to read more Previous Next

Gavi 6.0 strategy: A roadmap for global immunization Content Editor: Dr. Sumana June 27, 2024 at 12:30:00 PM Global health, Vaccination, Pandemics Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has launched its "Gavi 6.0" strategy for 2026-2030, focusing on expanding global immunization efforts. Amid climate change and pandemics, Gavi will adjust co-financing and eligibility criteria to sustain immunization programs and enhance health security. The alliance aims to bolster vaccine manufacturing in Africa through the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) and has set up a $500 million First Response Fund for rapid pandemic intervention. New vaccines for tuberculosis, dengue fever, group B streptococcus, hepatitis-E, and mpox have been approved, with COVID-19 vaccinations to phase out by 2025, shifting focus to emergency preparedness. Gavi remains committed to tackling outbreaks like measles and cholera, aligning with its mission to promote sustainable immunization and global health resilience. Shift towards emergency response mechanisms post-2025, with ongoing support for current outbreak responses, including mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are among the future COVID-19 plans. These decisions, finalized after a Geneva meeting, underscore Gavi's dedication to maximizing vaccine impact amidst evolving global health challenges. Click here to read more. Previous Next

The national action plan on antimicrobial resistance in India: Way forward The national action plan on antimicrobial resistance in India: Way forward Content Editor: Dr. Tanya July 4, 2024 Indian Journal of Medical Research Antimicrobial Resistance, One Health, Research findings Globally, 1.27 million deaths occur due to AMR , while 4.75 million deaths occur as a result of diseases caused by resistant pathogens. In India, 30% of neonatal deaths occur due to bacterial sepsis arising as a result of AMR. A recently published review discussed the various activities, strengths, and challenges India needs to address to curb AMR. Industrial effluents, sewage, and municipal waste released into the environment without appropriate treatment become reservoirs of resistant pathogens. The activities undertaken in India to safeguard the environment to curb AMR include: Raising awareness regarding AMR Evidence-based Surveillance Appropriate Infection Control Measures Rational use of antimicrobials Sustained global, national, and regional efforts to combat AMR The author concludes that the way forward for India to address AMR is as follows: The advocacy of One Health facilitates multisectoral coordination and drives efforts to tackle AMR. Law enforcement should help reduce the inflow of AMR-causing factors into the environment. Promoting evidence-based research to understand, monitor, and tackle the factors promoting AMR. Click here to read more.

Climate change's impact on Kenya's economy Content Editor: Dr Sumana Mukhopadhyay November 24, 2023 at 2:30:00 PM Climate Change, Health Economy The Kenya Country Climate and Development Report predicts the effects of climate change by the year 2050 as follows: A loss in GDP of the country by 7% Rise in poverty by 1.1 million Morbidity and mortality rise by 56% for malaria and 10% for waterborne illnesses. Extreme climate events severely impact agriculture and pastoral systems, disproportionately affecting people's lives. The rise in temperature decreases work productivity, affecting the economy. The climate shocks have compelled the citizens to decrease food consumption by 37%. To bridge the inequalities and lower climate change's impact on the economy, climate-resilient investment, policies, and their implementation are the need of the hour. Previous Next

Second malaria vaccine approved to fight mosquitoes' might Second malaria vaccine approved to fight mosquitoes' might Content Editor: Dr K Himabindu Reddy October 18, 2023 WHO News Section Global health, Child health, Malaria, Vaccination, WHO Malaria claims the lives of nearly half a million children and pregnant women every year worldwide, owing to this heavy burden of disease. WHO approved the first malaria vaccine, RTS/AS01, in 2021, but there was a vast demand and supply gap. World Health Organization recently approved the second vaccine, namely- R21/Matrix-M Salient features of R21 include: Better efficacy (75%) when given prior to the transmission season than when given in an age-based schedule (66%) Cost-effective when compared to the previous vaccine With the WHO approval of R21/MATRIX-M, the organization hopes to have sufficient vaccine stock to benefit children in all regions where malaria is a public health concern.

WHO Expands Essential Medicines List with Key Cancer, Diabetes and Obesity Treatments WHO Expands Essential Medicines List with Key Cancer, Diabetes and Obesity Treatments Content Editor :Dr. Sampriti September 20, 2025 World Health Organisation International Health News, essential medicines On September 5, 2025, the World Health Organization unveiled the 24th edition of its Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) and the 10th edition of the Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc). These updates were made after reviewing 59 submissions, which included 31 proposals for new medications or categories. In total, 20 new drugs were incorporated into the adult list and 15 into the children's list, along with new uses for seven existing medications, resulting in a total of 523 essential medicines for adults and 374 for children. The additions feature important treatments for cancer and diabetes—such as GLP-1 diabetes medications—as well as therapies for obesity, cystic fibrosis, psoriasis, hemophilia, and blood disorders. For further reading, click here

IL-35: A breakthrough in immunotherapy for Type 1 Diabetes IL-35: A breakthrough in immunotherapy for Type 1 Diabetes Content Editor: Dr Dheenadhayalan V November 27, 2024 PIB Diabetes Mellitus, Immunotherapy, Research findings The Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST ), Guwahati, has identified IL-35 as a promising treatment for type 1 and autoimmune diabetes mellitus. IL-35 refers to Interleukin-35 , a cytokine belonging to the interleukin family. This protein, composed of IL-12α and IL-27β chains encoded by the IL12A and EBI3 genes, plays a pivotal role in regulating immune responses. By reducing inflammatory immune cells and controlling pancreatic beta cell infiltration, IL-35 helps prevent immune cells from attacking insulin-producing cells . The research team employed network pharmacological analysis to examine IL-35-related genes and disease interactions. They identified five key genes associated with immune-inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. The study, published in CYTOKINE and World Journal of Diabetes , highlights IL-35’s potential to protect the immune system and offers new hope for diabetes management. Further research is needed to elucidate IL-35's mechanisms and advance this promising therapy to clinical trials Click here to read more.