Health Ministry Cracks Down on Fake Drug Network in Kolkata Health Ministry Cracks Down on Fake Drug Network in Kolkata Content Editor: Dr Shayari January 11, 2025 Press Information Bureau of India Drug Quality, Counterfeit Drug Prevention The Union Health Ministry, in collaboration with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO ) (East Zone) and Drugs Control Directorate, West Bengal authorities, conducted a raid in Kolkata, resulting in a significant seizure of counterfeit drugs. Spurious anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and other drugs valued at approximately ₹6.60 crore were confiscated from 'M/s Care and Cure For You' in Kolkata. The drugs were falsely labeled as being imported from countries such as Ireland, Turkey, the USA, and Bangladesh but lacked proper import documentation , confirming their counterfeit nature. The wholesale firm's proprietor was arrested and placed in 14-day judicial custody to aid further investigation. Samples of the seized drugs have been sent for quality testing, and authorities are working to uncover the full extent of the illegal drug network. Click here to read more.

Revamping the rules: Pandemic insights driving IHR amendments Revamping the rules: Pandemic insights driving IHR amendments Content Editor: Dr. Sangya Chaudhary October 21, 2023 WHO News Section International Health Regulations, Global Health During the fifth round of discussions under the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations 2005 (IHR), progress was made on over 300 proposed amendments. These encompassed areas such as: Points Of Entry Public Health Measures Health Documents General Provisions. The group also addressed proposals concerning equitable access to health products and consultation. Efforts will continue before the next meeting in December, including discussions between proponents of amendments and inter-sessional briefings. It's anticipated that the package of amendments may not be ready by January 2024. The IHR, legally binding 196 state parties, has been amended twice, in 2014 and 2022, with the most recent amendments set to take effect in May 2024, in response to lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pollution in Yamuna - A sorry state of affairs Pollution in Yamuna - A sorry state of affairs Content Editor: Dr Dr. Shubham Gupta March 28, 2024 Delhi Pollution Control Committee Health & Sanitation, Water pollution In a meeting held by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) , the following points were discussed - A study will be conducted aiming to determine the pollution sources of the Yamuna River. The need for a revised protocol for testing water samples was stressed. A gap of 222 MGD (million Gallons/ day) in sewage treatment needs to be addressed. Further, DPCC will install 10 online continuous monitoring stations (OLMS) in Yamuna to collect real-time data on water quality. Decision to implement Common Bio-Medical waste treatment facility(ies) (CBWTFs) Renewal of Operation and Maintenance contract of Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Situations (CAAQMS) Strengthening of staff from the UPSC merit list To increase the number of NABL-accredited labs, empanelled by MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forestry) & NCBC Extension of medical facilities to the employees of DPCC Click here to read more

WHO and Global Fund sign a new five year “Strategic Framework for Collaboration” WHO and Global Fund sign a new five year “Strategic Framework for Collaboration” Content Editor: Dr. Ismail Rifai June 17, 2023 WHO NEWS Section Global Health, Communicable disease, Global Fund • WHO and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have agreed to build upon previous agreement signed in 2018 and have come together for a new “Strategic Framework for Collaboration ”. • This framework aligns with the Global Fund Strategy (2023 - 2028) and the WHO General Programme of Work and commits to support countries to attain the health related SDGs and prioritises building community centred health response, addressing pandemic preparedness and challenges posed by climate change. • The focus areas for collaboration include health policies and normative guidance, advocacy and health governance, health products and innovations, and technical support and capacity building. • Previous collaborative achievements include but are not limited to – scaling up of differentiated service delivery (HIV), dual testing for COVID-19 and TB, WHO Insecticide Treated Nets Guidelines for malaria and shorter treatments for multidrug-resistant TB.

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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38-Headlines of the day (All) Public Health News Snippets 24-30th September, 2023 Empowering communities on international snake bite awareness day The International Snake Bite Awareness Day (ISBAD) is conducted every 19th September . Since the launch of the WHO global snake bite strategy in 2019 , the efforts to reduce the harm caused by snake bites have increased. However, there is still a lack of overall programmatic uptake. The global snake bite strategy advocates a multidisciplinary approach, which includes: Improving treatments Strengthening health systems Engaging Communities Building partnerships Mobilizing resources To commemorate the event this year and increase advocacy regarding the strategies, the WHO organized two webinars on 19th September. Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy WHO News Section Source : Published on : Monday, September 25, 2023 One Health, Neglected Tropical Diseases Managing deceased in disasters: Ensuring dignity, safety, and documentation Amidst the rising number of disasters, one of the most controversial and sensitive matters is handling the dead and deceased. The WHO and the International Red Cross Society have released a statement saying dead bodies from natural disasters and wars do not generally pose any health risk, and should be handled with dignity and respect. If burial is needed, it should be: Easily traceable Properly documented The bodies may harbor infections in cases of death due to infectious diseases. Care should be taken that the dead bodies aren’t closely attached to any water bodies to prevent their contamination. Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy WHO News Section Source : Published on : Monday, September 25, 2023 Disaster Management, Public Health The patient safety rights charter: A vision for the future of patient care World Patient Safety Day is celebrated every year on 17th September and this year's theme was "Engaging patients for patient safety." To earmark this event, a global conference on patient safety and patient engagement was held recently. The event ended with agreement on the first-ever patient Safety rights charter. This charter: Outlines the core rights of the patient Seeks to assist Governments in ensuring that the patients' voices are heard. Each year, 1 in 10 patients experience harm in healthcare settings, most of which are preventable. This year, emphasis is laid on: Listening to the family of the patients Learning from their experiences Involving them in every aspect of patient care The aim of this event was to shift from "care designed for patients" to "care designed with patients." Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy WHO News Section Source : Published on : Monday, September 25, 2023 Patient Safety Clear vision, safe workplace: A collaboration by ILO and IAPB The International Labour Organisation in collaboration with the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness on 5th September highlighted the imperativeness of healthy vision for safety and productivity at workplaces. Ocular injuries at workplace accounts for about 1 % of non fatal industrial injuries annually, and at least 30 % of unemployment are due to poor eye vision, the report says. Hence the need for co-ordinated initiatives to achieve the goals under Occupational safety and health programs has been emphasised, which includes: Prevent exposure to hazards. Protect the existing eye health of employees. Risk assessment of workers’ naturally occurring sight loss. Content Editor: Akhila Nandan WHO news section Source : Published on : Monday, September 25, 2023 Ergonomics Tamil Nadu launches ₹1,000 monthly grants for women-headed households Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has introduced the "Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam" in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, on the occasion of DMK founder C.N. Annadurai's birth anniversary. This initiative aims to provide a monthly rights grant of ₹1,000 to 1.06 crore women heading households in the state. The scheme was officially launched, and ATM cards were distributed to the beneficiaries in Kancheepuram. Mr. Stalin acknowledged that the scheme's implementation was delayed upon assuming office in 2021 due to the state's financial constraints. 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COVID-19 surge sparks central review: Is the nation ready to tackle the rising wave? COVID-19 surge sparks central review: Is the nation ready to tackle the rising wave? Content Editor: Dr Pradipta S December 25, 2023 Press Information Bureau COVID-19, Surveillance The rising cases of COVID-19 in some states prompted the Health Minister to chair a high-level meeting to review the COVID-19 situation in India. The health minister called on all states to enhance vigilance, maintain adequate supplies, and conduct regular mock drills. India witnessed a steep rise in COVID cases , from 115 to 614 in two weeks. Most cases ( 92.8%) remain mild, with no substantial increase in hospitalizations. Certain states like K erala, M aharashtra, J harkhand, and K arnataka show heightened daily positivity rates. A case of 𝐉𝐍.𝟏 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐎𝐕𝐈𝐃𝟏𝟗 has been detected in Kerala and is under scrutiny, with no immediate concern. Urgent directives have been issued to all states to remain prepared against new and emerging strains of the COVID-19 virus. Emphasizing the need for collective efforts between the Centre and the states, he urged the states to ramp up testing and surveillance.