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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Sprinkle of change: Millet flour takes the tax spotlight Sprinkle of change: Millet flour takes the tax spotlight Content Editor: Dr. Immanuel Joshua E October 19, 2023 Times of India Nutrition, Millets, International Year of Millets The GST Council, chaired by the Union Finance Minister in the 52nd GST Council meeting, has decided to levy a lower 5% tax on millet-based flour . This would be eligible when sold in pre-packaged and labeled form. Flour containing at least 70% millets will attract 0% GST if sold pre-packaged and labeled. The Council also decided to reduce GST on molasses to 5% from 28%. The council has also exempted alcohol for human consumption from the levy.

13-Headlines of the day (All) Public Health News Snippets 27 - 31st March, 2023 Campaign towards Zero waste at Delhi A women-led Swachhotsav campaign started on 8th March for three weeks, rallied for Garbage-free cities in Delhi till 29th March 2023 to observe the Swachhotsav event. To acknowledge women's contribution to the urban swachhata field, "Women Icons leading Swachhata (WINS) Awards " were given to women entrepreneurs. ‘Achieving sustainable and environmentally sound practices of minimizing and managing waste’- International Day of Zero Waste 2023 was celebrated on 30th March. The events on the line are best practices presentation on Circularity in Garbage-Free Cities, Women and Youth for GFC, Business and Tech for GFC, and Fireside chats with Mayors. Swachhata Yatra: Inter-state travel of women self-help group members engaged as waste entrepreneurs. Swachhata Doots are first-time women travelers for whom the travel is an enriching experience to learn from. Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala Maiti Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Friday, March 31, 2023 Sanitation, Environmental health G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group meeting at Gandhinagar The Second G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting concluded in Gandhinagar today with shared views and accordance on outcomes of the priority areas. Building on the discussions from the first ESCWG, constructive deliberations among the G20 countries took place on Arresting Land Degradation, Accelerating Ecosystem Restoration and Enriching Biodiversity; Promoting a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Blue Economy and Encouraging Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy. The G20 member countries reaffirmed their commitment towards combatting the environment and climate crisis, but with a renewed sense of urgency. All the G20 countries agreed on the pressing need for concerted global efforts and the immediate action required, given the current scenario. Sessions on Biodiversity, Land degradation and ecosystem restoration were conducted. The session witnessed engaging deliberations among the delegates on the two priority landscapes identified under India’s Presidency and presentations on the proposed Gandhinagar Implementation Roadmap (GIR) and draft publications on the compendium of best practices by experts from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE). The deliberations of draft G20 documents on the four sub-themes – 1) G20 Knowledge Exchanges in Circular Economy in Steel Sector, 2) Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Circular Economy and Circular Bioeconomy, 3) Proposed G20 Resource Efficiency , 4) Circular Economy Industry Coalition Content Editor: Dr. Rajat Sharma Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Friday, March 31, 2023 Climate Change WHO Collaborates with Yale University to focus more of Behavioural Sciences In a Memorandum of Understanding, the Yale Research Initiative on Innovation and Scale (Y-RISE) and the World Health Organization's (WHO) Behavioural Insights Unit (BI-Unit) have committed to working together over the next two years to advance and enable the systematic use of the social and behavioural sciences in public health, as well as to design and scale up evidence-based behavioural interventions. A better knowledge of how and why people behave in harmful ways to their health can be achieved using behavioural insights, which can also be used to build programmes and policies that address behavioural issues for better physical and mental health. Under the scope of this new partnership, Yale and WHO will: Exchange information about the latest advances in the scaling of behavioural interventions ; Lead collaborative projects to examine the impact of behavioural interventions in public health, including the complexities of scaling up such interventions; Jointly develop research proposals and presentations for stakeholders interested in applying behavioural science approaches to their programming; Deliver joint training on the science of scaling up behavioural sciences in public health policies and programmes. Content Editor: Dr. Rajat Sharma WHO Source : Published on : Friday, March 31, 2023 Behavioural Sciences Azerbaijan and Tajikistan declared Malaria free by WHO Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have received certification from the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating malaria in their countries. A nation's status as being malaria-free is formally acknowledged by WHO through certification of malaria elimination. A nation is given the certification if it can demonstrate, by rigorous, reliable evidence, that the cycle of indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been broken countrywide for at least the previous three years . A nation must also show that it has the ability to stop transmission from starting up again. In Azerbaijan and Tajikistan respectively, the last cases of locally transmitted Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria were discovered in 2012 and 2014. With today's announcement, the WHO has certified a total of 41 nations and 1 territory as being malaria-free, including 21 nations in the European Region. Both governments have provided free primary healthcare for everyone for more than 60 years. They have actively backed targeted malaria interventions, such as spraying insecticides on interior walls of homes to prevent the disease, encouraging early diagnosis and treatment of all cases, and maintaining the abilities of all health professionals working to eradicate the disease. National electronic surveillance systems for malaria are used in Tajikistan and Azerbaijan, providing practically real-time case detection and enabling quick investigations to establish if an infection is indigenous or imported. Biological approaches to larvae control, such as mosquito-eating fish, and water management practices were employed to limit the malaria vectors. Content Editor: Dr. Rajat Sharma WHO Source : Published on : Friday, March 31, 2023 Malaria elimination, WHO, Surveillance Join the team Public Health Chronicle! APPLY NOW Rally for Garbage Free Cities on International Day of Zero Waste Discussions and best practices presentations on Circularity in Garbage Free Cities, Women and Youth for GFC, Business, and Tech for GFC, and Fireside chat with Mayors will be conducted accordingly. The Women-led Swachhotsav , which would see residents rally for garbage-free cities on March 29, 30, and 31, 2023, will be influenced by the Swachh Mashaal March . After that, each ward of a participating Urban Local Body will conduct cleanliness drives in public spaces. For the Mashaal march, more than 2000 cities have already banded together. The event will be organized by MoHUA in collaboration with GIZ, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, and UNEP. Under the campaign, the first edition of Women Icons leading Swachhata (WINS) Awards 2023 was announced to recognize high-impact women entrepreneurs or women-led enterprises working for urban cleanliness. Also, a unique peer learning initiative, Swachhata Yatra has been rolled out wherein SHG members engaged as waste entrepreneurs are getting the exciting opportunity of inter-state travel and enriching their experience. Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Wednesday, March 29, 2023 Sanitation, women empowerment Twenty-sixth session by the Commission on Science and Technology for Development Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) is a subsidiary body of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the United Nations focal point for science, technology, and innovation (STI) for development. The themes pertaining to the 26th session are 1. Technology and innovation for more competitive, productive, and environmentally friendly production 2. Using science, technology, and creativity to provide everyone with access to clean water and sanitary facilities. The Commission will also receive presentations on ongoing policy assessments of science, technology, and innovation. It will also assess the results of the Global Summit on the Information Society's implementation and follow-up at the regional and global levels. It serves as a venue for strategic planning, the exchange of best practises and lessons learned, the provision of foresight about major trends in STI in significant economic, environmental, and social areas, and the spotlighting of cutting-edge and disruptive technologies. Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal United Nations Source : Published on : Wednesday, March 8, 2023 Science and Technology, sanitation Second Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group meeting in Gandhinagar 130 delegates from G20 member countries along with 11 invitee countries and 14 international organizations will take part in the Second G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting at Gandhinagar. The three-day meeting (March 27–29, 2023) will concentrate on issues such as stopping land degradation, accelerating ecosystem restoration, and enhancing biodiversity ; promoting resource efficiency and a circular economy; and promoting a sustainable and climate-resilient blue economy. Special presentations on major initiatives like Namami Gange , Climate Resilient Infrastructure , Participatory Ground Water Management , Jal Jeevan Mission , and Swachh Bharat Mission . The conference will kick off with a side event on managing water resources, organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti , where G20 members will present their best practices in this area. During the meeting, a number of organizations affiliated with the Ministry of Jal Shakti will also set up booths on themes like the Atal Bhujal Yojana, Swach Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission, Namame Gange, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, and National Water Mission. Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Tuesday, March 28, 2023 Water, environment, G20 WHO World TB Day Message from Director, WHO Global TB Programme The theme of World TB Day 2023 - 'Yes! We can end TB! WHO is urging action on several fronts on World TB Day to ensure that the commitments made to end TB are fulfilled, such as: First, calling for high-level leadership and advocacy . At the UN High-Level Meeting on TB at the General Assembly in September, the heads of state will gather to discuss stepping up efforts to end TB. Second, urging an urgent increase in investments both domestically and abroad to close crucial funding gaps and to ensure everyone has access to TB care for research. Third, calling on governments and other stakeholders to accelerate the implementation of the latest WHO guidance and rapidly roll out new tools to benefit those ill with TB. Fourth, emphasizing how critical it is to address health disparities to provide Health for All . Fifth, addressing the main causes of the TB pandemic, all sectors must work together to take coordinated action . Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal WHO News Section Source : Published on : Tuesday, March 28, 2023 Tuberculosis, WHO, infectious diseases Delhi hospitals run preparedness drills in anticipation of increase in COVID cases Delhi hospitals run preparedness drills in anticipation of an increase in COVID cases. Mock drills were conducted in various hospitals around Delhi in the background of rising COVID cases in the capital. Assessment of patient response time; the time taken to shift a patient to a room was done. For critical patients who need ICU, a red corridor was made, checking of ventilators and oxygen points was done. Meanwhile, case positivity for COVID-19 was 9.13% for Sunday (26 March) with 526 active patients in the national capital. It declined to 7.45% on Monday (27 March) with 115 new cases. Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal The Hindu Source : Published on : Tuesday, March 28, 2023 COVID, Infectious diseases Meta-analysis on risk factors of Post COVID-19 conditions A meta-analysis of published articles on factors predisposing to post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC) in adults reported female sex, older age, high BMI, and smoking to carry an increased risk of PCC. Fatigue, headache, shortness of breath, and persistent loss of smell or taste are some of the many symptoms reported to healthcare facilities requiring long-term follow-up care. The presence of comorbidities and previous hospital admission (ICU/ IPD) have a significantly higher risk, whereas two doses of COVID-19 vaccination have a lower risk of developing PCC. Recognizing people at risk of PCC will help to improve follow-up care and develop population-level public health measures. Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala Maiti JAMA Internal Medicine Source : Published on : Tuesday, March 28, 2023 COVID-19, Vaccination, Meta-analysis PAHO released report on Poliomyelitis in the Region of the Americas On 21st March 2023, the Peru National Institute of Health received lab confirmation of vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) type 1 in a 16-month child presenting with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP). Immunization coverage in the district which the child belongs is <80% of 3rd dose of polio vaccination with zero reporting of AFP cases. Another case of AFP linked to Sabin OPV type 2 (mOPV2) in Rockland country in 2022. Wastewater surveillance conducted in Orange and Sullivan counties, New York City, and Nassau County confirmed 101 samples positive for VDPV, indicating continued circulation. PAHO/WHO is working with respective counties to improve surveillance. Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala Maiti PAHO News section Source : Published on : Monday, March 27, 2023 Global Health, PAHO, Polio, VDPV, Outbreak, Surveillance ICMR released ethical guidelines for Artificial Intelligence ICMR released the country’s first ‘Ethical guidelines for Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Research and Healthcare . ICMR aspires to make AI-assisted platforms available for benefit of common people and also address ethical issues. The document will be updated whenever the need arises. Regulation of AI in healthcare is still in a very nascent stage even in developing countries. The ethical review process for AI in health also comes under the domain of the ethical committee . Download the Ethical guidelines for the application of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare - Click here Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal Indian Council of Medical Research Source : Published on : Monday, March 27, 2023 Artificial Intelligence, Advances in health care WHO’s first global conference on skin NTDs The World Health Organization (WHO) is organizing the first worldwide conference on skin-related neglected tropical diseases (skin NTDs) at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 27–31, 2023. Around 800 delegates from 86 nations are anticipated. This conference will examine how to effectively integrate case management for skin NTDs utilizing cross-cutting strategies to boost efficiency and broaden coverage throughout the healthcare industry. The third most common cause of illness and one of the top 10 causes of disability is skin diseases . They rank among the top 10 reasons for outpatient visits and are frequently linked to mental health issues, long-term disabilities, and stigma. At least 10 of the 20 neglected tropical illnesses have cutaneous symptoms. Skin NTDs are widely prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical regions and include Buruli ulcer; cutaneous leishmaniasis; Mycetoma, Chromoblastomycosis, and other deep mycoses; leprosy; Lymphatic filariasis; onchocerciasis; Post-Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis; scabies and other Ectoparasitoses and yaws. They all call for the same kind of case management and detection. Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal WHO News Section Source : Published on : Monday, March 27, 2023 Skin diseases, Neglected tropical diseases, infectious diseases 75 trucks flagged off for country-wide awareness about TB elimination In the Partnership Action against Tuberculosis (PAcT ) Summit held on 16th March 2023, Union Health minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya announced that more than 71,000 Nik-shay Mitras have volunteered to support over 10 lakh TB patients through Union Government’s Ni-kshay scheme. 75 Trucks of Apollo Tyres Foundation, branded with TB messages from five locations (Delhi, Mudra Port- Gujarat, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, and Agartala) were flagged off by him. Apollo Tyres Foundation has intensified TB-Free India Campaign by engaging - Heroes on Wheels (Truck Drivers) and other vulnerable groups across 32 locations in 19 States in the country to create awareness of Tuberculosis. They have also adopted 75 TB patients under the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan. Highlighting that truck drivers form an important cohort of TB patients, Dr. Mandaviya stated that this initiative will boost efforts to address TB among truckers’ communities and others closely associated with them. Multi-sectoral engagement is a key pillar of NTEP and hence the Union Minister urged everyone to come forward in the spirit of Jan Bhagidari to achieve the goal of making India TB free by 2025. He also urged other corporates, institutions, trade bodies, associations, and individuals for actively support India’s battle against tuberculosis. The Union Health Minister also distributed nutrition baskets to several TB patients at the event. Content Editor: Dr. Jasmin Nilima Panda Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Monday, March 27, 2023 Public Health, National Health Programme, Infectious disease Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods Mission to deal Urban Poverty In a reply to Lok Sabha, the Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs informed regarding Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) being implemented to alleviate urban poverty. DAY-NULM has the following objectives, Reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households by enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities. Improve their livelihoods on a sustainable basis. Address concerns of the urban street vendors by facilitating access to suitable spaces, institutional credit, social security, etc. Employment through Skill Training & Placement (EST&P) component under the Mission aims to provide skill training to the urban poor in market-oriented courses. The Self-Employment Programme (SEP) component focuses on financial assistance to individuals/groups/SHGs of urban poor to set up gainful self-employment ventures or micro-enterprises. Content Editor: Dr. Anubhav Mondal Press Information Bureau Source : Published on : Monday, March 27, 2023 Poverty Alleviation Programmes, NULM Daily News Snippets Monthly Archives This is a title. View More This is an extra long title. Click here to edit and add your own text. It's easy. View More This is a title. Click here to edit and add your own text. View More This is a title. Click here to edit and add your own text. View More Subscribe to get Latest Public Health Updates SUBSCRIBE

First fatality due to H5N1 in Vietnam First fatality due to H5N1 in Vietnam Content Editor: Dr. Soundhar April 8, 2024 Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Infectious Disease, International Health News, Viral Outbreak. The infection involved a 21-year-old student who had an H5N1 infection, which was reported by the media and confirmed by the provincial health authority, which led to the death of the student. An epidemiological investigation found trapped wild birds near the man's home before and after the lunar new year. However, no other cases have been detected while monitoring the patient's contacts. The last H5N1 case was reported in October 2022 and was from Phu Tho province, and specifications regarding which H5N1 clade was the source remain unclear. Similarly, specifications regarding which H5N1 clade caused the current disease remain unclear. Data from the agriculture ministry showed six Avian flu outbreaks have been reported across six provinces , and the health ministry said there are ongoing reports of sporadic H5N1 case detections in poultry. Click here to read more.

National Dental Commission Bill, 2022. National Dental Commission Bill, 2022. January 2, 2023 Times of India Public Health Policy The Centre is likely to table the National Dental Commission Bill, 2022 in the upcoming Budget session of Parliament. The Bill seeks to replace the existing Dentists Act, 1948 and institute the National Dental Commission to regulate dental education and profession throughout India. The composition of the dental commission will be similar to that of the National Medical Commission.

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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Karnataka to allow terminally ill patients the right to die with dignity Karnataka to allow terminally ill patients the right to die with dignity Content Editor: Dr Manu March 7, 2025 Karnataka Government, Health Department Circular Euthanasia, Living Will, Right to Life and Personal Liberty, Right to Dignity On 30th January 2025, Karnataka became the second state in India , after Kerala, to implement the Supreme Court’s order to allow terminally ill patients the right to die with dignity by withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment . This will help those with no hope of recovery or those who are in a persistent vegetative state and where the patient no longer benefits from life-sustaining treatment. Background- On January 24, 2023, the Supreme Court, in its judgment, said the right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution encompassed the right to die with dignity. The salient points of this order are as follows - A patient can make an advanced directive or living will stating the kind of treatment they wish to receive and avoid. They can also nominate two people to make decisions on their behalf if they are incapacitated. Of such patients, those patients who are terminally ill and undergoing prolonged medical treatment with no hope of recovery and no decision-making capacity can have their life-supporting treatment withheld or withdrawn after the following conditions are fulfilled - The decision has to be certified by two medical boards (primary and secondary) formed at the treating hospital: The first board will comprise three registered medical practitioners (RMPs), which can be a neurologist, neurosurgeon, surgeon, and anesthetist or intensivist approved by an appropriate authority. The second board will comprise an RMP nominated by the District Health Officer -They will take the decision after obtaining consent from the patient’s next of kin or the person(s) mentioned in the advanced directive. Two copies of the decision will be sent to the Judicial Magistrate of First Class (JFMC) , who will then send a copy to the Registrar of the High Court for the record.

Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GEPI) - Weekly updates Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GEPI) - Weekly updates Content Editor: Dr.Sakshi Aggarwal February 1, 2024 Centre for Infectious Disease Research And Policy International health, Polio, Elimination certification GEPI was launched in 1988 to ensure that no child anywhere is paralyzed by any form of poliovirus. To eradicate polio, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative tracks the status of the infection caused by the virus, every week. For the initial weeks of January 2024, the summary of cases reported is as follows: Afghanistan: Seven wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1)-positive environmental samples Pakistan: Three WPV1-positive environmental samples Chad: One cVDPV2 case Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa): One cVDPV2 case and one positive environmental sample Democratic Republic of the Congo: Four cVDPV1 cases and one cVDPV2 case Mozambique: One cVDPV1 case Nigeria: Six cVDPV2 cases South Sudan: One cVDPV2 case Zimbabwe: Six cVDPV2-positive environmental samples