A measured English daily covering India and the wider world.
Thiruvananthapuram district saw a sharp rise in fever cases in early January 2026, with over 11,000 people seeking treatment between January 1 and 22. Reports cited confirmed leptospirosis cases and dengue cases, alongside other illnesses, prompting intensified surveillance, vector control and public advisories on hygiene and early medical care.
Academic research cited ahead of the Union Budget 2026-27 argues India should increase public healthcare expenditure to counter rising medical costs and inequality in access. The study analysed long-term national data and examined drivers of per-capita health spending and household out-of-pocket payments.
Ahead of Union Budget 2026-27, health experts and industry voices argue India’s public health spending remains below 2% of GDP and needs a sustained increase to tackle rising disease burden and reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Haryana’s health department modified its earlier directive on CCTV surveillance linked to monitoring Ayushman Bharat claims, explicitly prohibiting cameras inside ICUs, HDUs, patient rooms and procedure areas. The revised order allows surveillance only in common spaces such as corridors and entry/exit points, citing privacy and consent safeguards.
After suspected Nipah virus cases were identified in West Bengal on 11 January 2026, the Centre deployed a National Joint Outbreak Response Team to assist the state with containment, surveillance and public health measures, according to a report.
An academic study released ahead of the Union Budget 2026-27 calls for a significant increase in public healthcare expenditure, arguing that rising medical costs and uneven access demand stronger state investment and better infrastructure.
A new academic study released ahead of the Union Budget 2026-27 calls for a sharper increase in India’s public healthcare expenditure, warning that economic and social change is pushing medical costs up and deepening inequality in access. The research analyses long-term national data and argues that stronger public investment is crucial for affordability and universal access.
An academic study released ahead of the Union Budget 2026-27 argues India needs a sharper increase in public healthcare expenditure to counter rising medical costs and unequal access. The research analyses long-run drivers of healthcare spending and flags the policy need for stronger public investment and reduced out-of-pocket burden.
One year after Pune’s Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) outbreak—linked by investigations to contaminated water—reports say gaps remain in water treatment capacity and hospital readiness. While chlorination automation and sampling have expanded, a dedicated treatment facility is still pending and experts warn that delays, ICU shortages and drug availability issues exposed during the surge require long-term fixes, not temporary workarounds.
A year after Pune faced a major Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) outbreak that investigations linked to contaminated water, a report says gaps persist in water safety and hospital readiness. The Pune Municipal Corporation is still awaiting clearance for a dedicated treatment plant in affected areas, while doctors and activists argue that stockpiling critical medicines and improving early diagnosis pathways remain urgent priorities.
A new academic study released ahead of the Union Budget 2026–27 has renewed calls for a sharper rise in public healthcare expenditure in India. The research argues that medical costs are rising and access gaps are widening, and suggests stronger public funding could reduce out-of-pocket pressure on households while improving equity in health outcomes.
As Chikungunya cases increase in parts of India, ICMR is stepping up efforts on an RNA-based antiviral approach and urging collaboration with pharma companies to speed development and production.