Health

Recent changes to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework -- simplified tax structure, removal of tax on drugs and medical equipment and increased taxation on tobacco products -- mark an important policy shift towards making cancer care more affordable and accessible, AIIMS researchers have said. In a commentary published in Frontier, Oncologist Dr Abhishek Shankar and Scientist Dr Vaibhav Sahni from the Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, AIIMS, Delhi, noted that the reforms acknowledge the financial toxicity faced by cancer patients and attempt to address long-standing gaps in treatment affordability. The researchers mentioned that the GST council, in its 56th meeting, recommended the total exemption of 33 lifesaving drugs, including th...

The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) on Friday said its researchers have found that too much mucus can weaken the lungs` defences, which can make people more prone to allergy attacks. The airways to the lungs have a naturally engineered defence mechanism that gets activated when any foreign material enters the airways by secreting a fluid called mucus to trap it. However, for millions of people living in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other metros, the rising levels of air pollution have been posing a persistent health hazard, with heavy smog-filled air causing severe respiratory issues. In a recent study, IIT Bombay researchers have found that as mucus volume increases in response to pollution (or a foreign material) in the airways, its defence does not impr...

More than 32,000 cancer cases have been reported across Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, with nearly 79 per cent of the total cases recorded in the valley alone, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo said on Friday, February 13. Replying to an unstarred question by PDP legislator Waheed Ur Rehman Para in the Assembly, the minister said 25,621 cases were registered in Kashmir division (2022â¿¿2024), while 6,804 cases were reported from Jammu division (2023-2025). She said the most commonly detected cancers include that of lung, breast, oral, cervical and prostate. Gastro-intestinal malignancies, including cancers of the esophagus, stomach and colorectal region, are also frequently reported, Itoo said. Sharing the details compiled by the Health and Medical Education Department, the minister sai...

In a heart rending yet profoundly inspiring act, a 10-month-old baby girl, who lost her life in a road accident, has become the youngest organ donor in Kerala, offering hope and healing to others even in death, officials said on Friday. Alin Sherin Abraham, hailing from Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district, was declared brain dead following a tragic road accident. In the middle of unimaginable grief, her parents chose to donate her organs so that other lives could be saved. Their decision has touched the hearts of many across the state. The infant`s kidneys, liver and heart valves are being donated. Her two kidneys will be transplanted to a 10-year-old child undergoing treatment at the S.A.T. Hospital attached to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College. The organs are being transpor...

The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati researchers have developed a new system that can effectively remove 99 per cent arsenic from contaminated water at a low cost. The electrocoagulation system has demonstrated the ability to remove contaminants within a few minutes, making it suitable for use in regions with limited access to complex water treatment infrastructure. Due to rapid industrialisation and urban growth, global reliance on groundwater has increased significantly. In many regions, groundwater contains arsenic released from natural rock formations or human activities such as mining and agriculture. In a press release, IIT Guwahati stated that Long-term exposure can cause serious health problems, including organ damage and cancer. "Around 140 million people globally are exp...

Human evolution has long been tied to growing brain size, and new research suggests prenatal hormones may have played a surprising role. By studying the relative lengths of the index and ring fingers, a marker of prenatal exposure to oestrogen and testosterone, researchers found that higher prenatal oestrogen exposure was associated with larger head size in newborn boys. Human evolution is closely tied to a steady increase in brain size. New research suggests that this expansion may be partly influenced by pre-birth oestrogen levels, with an unexpected indicator in the length of our fingers. Professor John Manning, part of Swansea`s Applied Sports, Technology, Exercise and Med-icine (A-STEM) research team, has spent years studying what is known as digit ratio. This measure compares the ...

The entrepreneurial dream is alive and well. Every year, millions of people launch side hustles, hoping to turn passion projects into profitable ventures. Yet a surprising number of these promising businesses never make it past the initial setup phase. The culprit? Not lack of demand, insufficient capital, or poor marketing—but something far more mundane: paperwork. The Documentation Disconnect Most aspiring entrepreneurs spend months perfecting their product or service. They research their market, build their brand, and dream about their first sale. But when it comes time to make their business official, many hit an unexpected wall. The excitement of creation collides with the reality of registration, and suddenly that brilliant side-hustle idea starts collecting dust. The statistics t...

Mumbai doctors have successfully resolved a complex neurological case involving a 35-year-old nurse diagnosed with myasthenia gravis based on a positive antibody test and started on long-term medication. Expert reassessment and advanced neurophysiological testing overturned the diagnosis, safeguarding the patient from unnecessary immunosuppressive therapy. The patient from Navi Mumbai presented with drooping of her left eyelid (ptosis) that had persisted for several months. With a prior diagnosis of hyperthyroidism already complicating her plans for pregnancy, she initially consulted a neuro-ophthalmologist and later a neurologist at a healthcare facility in Mumbai. A blood test for acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies returned positive, leading to a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. Sh...

Tamil Nadu has crossed a critical public health threshold, registering more than one lakh new cancer cases in a single year for the first time. The latest figures for 2025, according to data submitted in Parliament by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, show 1,00,097 fresh cases in the state, underscoring a sharp and sustained rise in incidence and raising concerns among health authorities about prevention, early detection, and treatment capacity.   Experts caution that without stronger screening programmes and lifestyle interventions, the numbers could continue to climb in the coming years. The upward trend has been consistent over the past five years. Annual registrations rose from 68,750 cases in 2020 to 76,968 in 2021; 89,265 in 2022; 92,816 in 2023, and 96,486 in 2024, ...

Highlighting the growing financial strain in cancer care across India, a new analysis claims data reveal that cancer treatment is prolonged and costs a significant amount that can push patients and families. Every year, World Cancer Day 2026 is observed on February 4 to raise awareness about the disease that has adverse effects on human life, encouraging not only its prevention but also its detection and treatment. The claims analysis by Care Health Insurance shows that cancer treatment costs are rising sharply, with early-stage treatment typically costing Rs 5–7 lakh per case, while high-complexity and advanced cancers can push expenses to ₹20–30 lakh per treatment, depending on disease progression, care intensity, treatment protocol and period of treatment. This is particularly relevan...