Category Archives: Health

NRP Day Celebrated Across Delhi to Boost Newborn Survival

In a landmark nationwide effort to improve newborn survival and strengthen neonatal emergency care, the National Neonatology Forum (NNF) India celebrated NRP Day, with large-scale hands-on skill training programs conducted simultaneously across the country. As part of this historic initiative, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital Model Town, New Delhi actively participated by organizing a Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) training session for healthcare professionals.

 The initiative marks one of the largest synchronized healthcare training efforts in India and is being led under the leadership of Dr. Lallan Kumar Bharti, with the vision of ensuring that every newborn receives timely and effective resuscitation support at birth.

Newborn mortality continues to remain a significant public health challenge in India. A large proportion of neonatal deaths occur because babies are unable to establish breathing immediately after birth. Medical experts emphasize that the first few minutes after delivery are extremely critical, and timely intervention by trained healthcare providers can prevent many avoidable newborn deaths. Simple, evidence-based resuscitation skills can make the difference between life and death for a newborn.

Recognizing this urgent need, NNF India conceptualized and executed this massive capacity-building initiative across the nation. A total of 998 training courses were conducted nationwide, with participation from nearly 20,000 healthcare providers. These trainings extended beyond metropolitan cities to rural and geographically challenging regions, ensuring wider access to essential newborn care skills.

In Delhi, multiple centres participated in this initiative, significantly contributing toward strengthening neonatal care services in the state. At Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, the training program was coordinated by Dr. Nidhi Gupta, where 21 healthcare professionals received hands-on neonatal resuscitation training.

The trainings were conducted completely free of cost and included healthcare workers from both government and private healthcare sectors. This inclusive approach ensured broader outreach and uniform strengthening of newborn care practices across India.

NNF India played a pivotal role in providing end-to-end support for the planning, coordination, standardization, and execution of the training sessions across all centres, ensuring consistency and quality in the program delivery.

This synchronized nationwide initiative is expected to set a record for conducting the highest number of neonatal resuscitation skill trainings in a single day, marking a historic milestone in India’s ongoing efforts to improve newborn survival rates and strengthen neonatal healthcare services.

Palomar Medical Center Poway Earns an ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group

Beyond Acute-Phase Support: How “Ibasho” Aids Disaster Mental Health Recovery

Authors propose that rebuilding community, routine, and social roles is essential for long-term recovery after disasters

As disasters increasingly disrupt lives through displacement, conflict, and climate-related emergencies, addressing long-term mental health recovery remains a major challenge. A correspondence from Juntendo University discusses that, while acute symptom assessment remains important, disaster psychiatry may benefit from a community-led approach to care. The authors discuss the importance of ibasho (community spaces of belonging and social purpose) and suggest that rebuilding routines, roles, and neighborhood connections may support long-term recovery and resilience. 

Natural disasters drastically affect human lives—destroying homes, separating families, leading to disruption of daily routines, which affects their stability. While emergency mental health responses are crucial in the beginning of the crisis, new correspondence discusses that psychological recovery may rely on a more meaningful approach to help restore a sense of place and belonging.

Ibasho: A Community-led Place for Belonging and Meaning

In this context, authors from Juntendo University, Japan, led by Associate Professor Hidetaka Tamune from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, along with Dr. Yutaka Igarashi from Nippon Medical School, Japan, and Dr. Yuzuru Kawashima from the Disaster Psychiatric Assistance Team, Japan, discussed the approach of ibasho (a community-building concept in Japan) for people affected by disasters. The details were made available online on April 3, 2026, and published in Volume 407, Issue 10537 of The Lancet journal on April 11, 2026.

Dr. Tamune says, “Disaster recovery is not only about reducing acute psychiatric symptoms. It is also about restoring the social environments that give people stability, dignity, and a sense of purpose. In Japanese, the places that make this possible are called ibasho.”

Ibasho means a place of belonging where people are engaged in social networks, routines, and meaningful roles. The authors suggested that restoring this sense of connection among people affected by disasters may be just as important as detecting early symptoms, as it plays a vital role in supporting community recovery. Supporting this, the correspondence places ibasho within the internationally recognized Sphere humanitarian framework, which focuses on survival with dignity, continuity with care, and coordinated support systems during crises. It also suggests that ibasho aligns closely with those principles by offering social infrastructure for displaced and affected communities.

Ibasho in Japan: Community-Led Recovery in Practice 

Compared to conventional interventions, ibasho refers to safe, community-led spaces where individuals can reconnect with others and resume daily routines. This may include neighborhood gathering spaces, shared community programs, and locally led recovery hubs. To support this perspective, the authors cited the evidence from disaster-affected regions in Japan. These include examples from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima nuclear accident. Notably, there was an increase in the dementia consultations and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) among older adults near the evacuation zones of the affected areas. In contrast, the communities where older residents were helped by leading ibasho-style programs reported stronger recovery and more stable routines with improved social and family relationships. This suggests that recovery improved when people were able to regain meaningful roles in community life. The older adults not only receive support but are also actively contributing to the recovery efforts and rebuilding community life.

“What appears to be most important is not simply access to services, but whether people can reclaim their place within the community and continue to feel valued, useful, and connected.　In Japan, a disaster-prone and super-aged society, we have both the experience and the responsibility to share what we have learned about caring for older adults with dementia, especially those who develop BPSD and delirium,” explains Dr. Tamune.

Redefining Recovery Through Connection, Culture, and Dignity

Although particularly relevant to natural disasters, the correspondence suggests that preparedness and recovery both depend not only on services but also on whether people can remain connected to local networks, routines, and meaningful social roles. The authors further note that trauma-informed support should remain culturally congruent; in some communities, restoring routines, roles, and communal life through ibasho may be the most acceptable first step.

Overall, the correspondence highlights the importance of ibasho in post-disaster mental health. It suggests that, although acute symptom detection matters, recovery also depends on whether people can continue to live safely, sustain relationships, and regain meaningful roles after displacement. In this sense, ibasho may function as a culturally congruent local social infrastructure through which dignity, continuity, and safety are restored in everyday life.

L V Prasad Eye Institute organises Whitathon Run, an annual cause-related awareness event

Hyderabad, May 11: The eighth edition of Whitathon Run, the annual cause-related awareness and fundraising event organised by L V Prasad Eye Institute, was held on Sunday morning at the University of Hyderabad, Gachibowli. The run commenced at 5:30 a.m. and witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 2,000 runners, families, students, healthcare professionals, volunteers and supporters from across Hyderabad.

The event featured four race categories — 3K, 5K, 10K and 21K.

The 21K Half Marathon was flagged off by Dr Prashant Garg, Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, Arun Kumar Kalliapan and Dr Swati Kaliki.

The 10K run was flagged off by Dr Prashant Garg, Sri Venkatesh Reddy, Dr Vijay Anand Reddy and Dr Swati Kaliki.

The 5K run was flagged off by Dr Merle Fernandez, Srinivasa Rao and Dr Swati Kaliki. The dignitaries also joined in flagging off the other race categories.

Supported by Hyderabad Runners, Whitathon 2026 continued its mission of raising awareness about Retinoblastoma, a life-threatening eye cancer that primarily affects children below the age of three. The event also aimed to mobilise support for free treatment and research initiatives for underprivileged children diagnosed with the disease.

In the Men’s Half Marathon category, Suraj Sarkar secured first place with a timing of 1:30:02, followed by Tapan Rai at 1:37:51 and Md. Shahbaz at 1:42:40. In the Men’s 10K category, Pradeep Thakur emerged winner with a timing of 0:45:05, while Viresh Sharadi and Ranbir Singh Bagga finished second and third with timings of 0:45:26 and 0:46:14 respectively. In the Women’s 10K category, Kitu Sheron topped the field with a timing of 0:49:57, followed by Aishwarya Agarwal at 0:56:18 and Anisha Sharma at 0:58:57. In the Men’s 5K category, Mohd Yonus finished first with a timing of 0:21:15, followed by Umesh Bishwakarma at 0:21:48 and Vennam Anand at 0:22:28. In the Women’s 5K category, Pranika Dixit secured first place with a timing of 0:29:22, while Swarna and Nikhitha George finished with timings of 0:32:16 and 0:33:49 respectively.

The central message of Whitathon — recognising the “White Reflex” in a child’s eye as an early warning sign of eye cancer requiring immediate medical attention — was amplified throughout the event through awareness activities and participant engagement.

Speaking on the occasion, representatives from LVPEI emphasised the urgent need for early detection and timely intervention in Retinoblastoma cases. While more than 90% of children treated at LVPEI survive the disease, vision can be preserved in only about 45% of cases due to delayed diagnosis and presentation.

India accounts for nearly 20–25% of Retinoblastoma cases worldwide. Globally, nearly half of affected children lose their lives because of late detection and inadequate treatment. Medical experts reiterated that Retinoblastoma is highly curable when identified early, helping save the child’s life, eye and vision.

Funds raised through Whitathon 2026 will support treatment for children from economically disadvantaged families and contribute towards research into advanced and novel treatment options for Retinoblastoma.

Since its inception in 2018, Whitathon has steadily grown into a major community-driven awareness initiative in Hyderabad, reflecting the city’s strong culture of social responsibility and public participation.

Over the past decade, LVPEI has treated more than 2,500 patients with Retinoblastoma. The institute continues to provide over 50% of its services entirely free of cost, irrespective of the complexity of care required, through its unique cross-subsidy and Eye Health Pyramid models.

Established in 1987 with the vision “to create excellent and equitable eye care systems that reach all those in need,” L V Prasad Eye Institute is a comprehensive eye health institution and a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for the Prevention of Blindness. LVPEI is also globally recognised for its cutting-edge eye research, with more than 5,000 scientific papers published in leading international journals.

Whitathon 2026 concluded on a high note, with participants pledging to continue spreading awareness about childhood eye cancer and the importance of early eye screening for children.

The Scores

Winners and Timings

In the Men’s Half Marathon category, the top three finishers were:

• Suraj Sarkar — 1:30:02
• Tapan Rai — 1:37:51
• Md. Shahbaz — 1:42:40

In the Men’s 10K category, the top three finishers were:

• Pradeep Thakur — 0:45:05
• Viresh Sharadi — 0:45:26
• Ranbir Singh Bagga — 0:46:14

 In the Women’s 10K category, the top three finishers were:

• Kitu Sheron — 0:49:57

• Aishwarya Agarwal — 0:56:18
• Anisha Sharma — 0:58:57

In the Men’s 5K category, the top three finishers were:

• Mohd Yonus — 0:21:15
• Umesh Bishwakarma — 0:21:48
• Vennam Anand — 0:22:28

In the Women’s 5K category, the top three finishers were:

• Pranika Dixit — 0:29:22
• Swarna — 0:32:16
• Nikhitha George — 0:33:49

—

Women’s Health Claims Rise Sharply as Maternity Costs Increase, Finds Care Health Insurance

May 10, 2026: India’s maternity healthcare landscape is undergoing a significant shift, with more women accessing formal, institutional care than ever before. As per data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with over 88–90% of births now occurring in institutional settings, the share of institutional deliveries has reached 97.3% in 2023–24, signalling a sustained shift towards formal, hospital-based maternal care. Government data presented in 2025 further showed that C-section deliveries accounted for over 27% of all reported births in India during 2024–25, reinforcing the growing shift towards medically intensive maternity care.

Against this backdrop, Care Health Insurance highlights a clear expansion in women’s health claims, both in scale and intensity. Women’s health insurance claims rose 37% from FY25 to FY26, with the 20–40 age group continuing to drive this growth, increasing from 25% over the same period.

At the same time, maternity-related claims are becoming more cost-intensive with Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities continue to account for a larger share of overall claims contributing to 60% of all maternity claims reported to the company.

A shift in maternal age profile is also visible. In FY26, women aged above 35 years accounted for 12% of total maternity claim volumes which was higher as compared to previous years and increasing. The cost of this age group was 18% of the overall claim amount, indicating higher cost intensity associated with later-age pregnancies.

Overall maternity claim outgo has risen by 25% over the last two years, even as claim volumes have fluctuated, indicating a shift towards higher spend per case.

While deliveries are becoming increasingly institutionalized and becoming more efficient, the proportion of women discharged within five days for maternal care has increased from 75% in FY24 to 82% in FY26. This duration of discharge is not resulting in cost reduction, instead the company has seen an upward trend in cost intensity for maternal treatment.

Taken together, these trends reflect a structural shift in maternal healthcare, with rising cost intensity and evolving care patterns driving higher financial exposure. The findings are further reinforced by broader public health data, which indicates that a majority of women in India are accessing formal antenatal care services, while three out of four continue to have inadequate dietary iron intake, highlighting persistent nutritional gaps and long-term health vulnerabilities beyond maternity.

Commenting on the findings, Manish Dodeja, Executive Director & Chief Business Officer, Care Health Insurance, said, “Women’s health insurance claims are no longer following a linear growth pattern; they are expanding in both scale and intensity. We are seeing a clear shift in the maternity landscape, with costs rising steadily. While care pathways are becoming more efficient, the financial exposure associated with maternal healthcare is increasing. This is not just a utilisation trend; it reflects a broader shift in how women are accessing and experiencing healthcare today. It is therefore important for individuals to periodically reassess their coverage to ensure it remains aligned with evolving needs.”

As maternal healthcare continues to formalise and utilisation rises, ensuring adequate and timely health insurance coverage remains critical to managing financial exposure and ensuring continuity of care.

Optum India and United Way Bengaluru power last-mile healthcare with 45 e-Bikes for PHCs

May 08 | Bengaluru: Reinforcing their commitment to strengthening primary healthcare systems, United Way Bengaluru (UWBe), in partnership with Optum India, handed over 45 ebikes to primary health centers (PHCs) at an event held at the Bengaluru Rural Deputy Commissioner’s Office. Designed to enhance last-mile connectivity, these e-bikes will significantly improve the reach, efficiency, and responsiveness of frontline healthcare workers, enabling them to better serve remote and underserved communities across the Bengaluru rural district, such as Hoskote, Doddaballapur, and other areas.

The event was inaugurated by Dr. Vasanthi Amar B V, CEO Bengaluru Rural; Uma Ratnam Krishnan, Managing Director (MD), Optum India, and Rajesh Krishnan, CEO, United Way Bengaluru, along with district officials, representatives from Optum and United Way Bengaluru, PHC staff, and community stakeholders.

“The e-bike program supports the Government of Karnataka’s vision of inclusive healthcare, where strong partnerships with NGOs, corporates, and communities ensure timely, accessible services reach every rural doorstep through innovative e-mobility. By empowering frontline health workers with efficient last-mile connectivity, this initiative not only improves service delivery but also strengthens trust within communities,” – Dr. Vasanthi Amar B V, IAS, CEO, Bengaluru Rural Zilla Panchayat.

“The future of healthcare will be defined by how well we empower those working closest to the community. By investing in mobility at the primary care level, we are enabling a more proactive and responsive system, one that is grounded in the everyday realities of the people it serves. As a force for good in India for India, our partnership with United Way Bengaluru aligns our shared vision to strengthen primary healthcare systems and drive meaningful impact at the grassroots,” said Uma Ratnam Krishnan, Managing Director (MD), Optum India.              

“This collaboration signals the start of a purposeful partnership with Optum India, built on a common focus on advancing public health outcomes. It reflects a shared, long-term commitment to strengthening community health systems and supporting models of care that are better equipped to meet local needs,” said Rajesh Krishnan, CEO, United Way Bengaluru.

Mandaviya Launches Nationwide Free Annual Health Check-Up

New Delhi, May 7 (BNP): Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday launched a nationwide initiative offering free annual health check-ups for workers aged 40 years and above.

Speaking at ESIC Medical College & Hospital in Delhi, the Minister said the initiative is aimed at strengthening preventive healthcare for workers and improving early detection of health issues through regular medical screening.

He added that the rollout of the four Labour Codes reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing dignity, welfare, and social security for workers across the country under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Describing the occasion as a tribute to “Shram Shakti,” Mandaviya said the government is focused on expanding social security coverage and ensuring better healthcare access for the workforce.

Officials said the initiative is expected to improve occupational health outcomes and promote a more structured approach to worker welfare through timely and preventive medical care.

Government Launches JANANI Platform to Digitally Transform Maternal and Child Healthcare

New Delhi, May 7 (BNP): The Government has launched JANANI (Journey of Antenatal, Natal and Neonatal Integrated Care), a QR-enabled digital health platform designed to improve monitoring and delivery of maternal and child healthcare services across the country.

The platform is an upgraded version of the existing Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) system and creates a continuous digital health record covering the full cycle of care—from pregnancy and delivery to postnatal and newborn services, as well as family planning.

Key features of JANANI

The system enables QR-enabled digital Mother and Child Health (MCH) cards, allowing easy access and portability of health records. It also supports real-time tracking of beneficiaries, automated alerts for high-risk pregnancies, and digital dashboards for health officials to monitor service delivery and identify gaps.

JANANI integrates with national health platforms such as U-WIN and POSHAN, ensuring seamless data sharing across programmes and improving coordination between healthcare services. It also allows registration through multiple identifiers, including ABHA, Aadhaar, and mobile numbers, helping reduce duplication and improve accuracy.

The platform further supports self-registration via web and mobile access, along with reminders for antenatal visits, immunisation schedules, and critical health milestones.

Progress so far

According to official data, JANANI has recorded over 1.34 crore beneficiary registrations, including more than 30 lakh pregnant women. It has also generated over 30 lakh MCH cards and completed more than 1 lakh biometric verifications.

Importance and benefits

Officials said the platform is expected to significantly strengthen maternal and child healthcare delivery by ensuring timely monitoring and early intervention in high-risk cases. It is also designed to improve continuity of care, particularly for migratory populations, by maintaining portable digital records accessible across the country.

By combining real-time tracking, automated alerts, and integrated health data systems, JANANI is expected to enhance efficiency in service delivery, reduce missed health check-ups, and support better health outcomes for mothers and children.

The government said the initiative reflects a broader push toward digital health transformation and more inclusive, technology-driven public healthcare services in India.

ESIC Launches Free Health Check-Up Drive for Workers Under New Labour Framework

New Delhi, May 6 (BNP): A free health check-up initiative for workers has been launched under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (Employees’ State Insurance Corporation), marking early implementation efforts linked to the new labour framework reforms.

The initiative aims to improve preventive healthcare access for insured workers by offering routine medical screening and early detection services. It is part of a broader effort to strengthen workplace welfare and enhance social security coverage for the workforce.

Officials stated that the programme will help identify health risks at an early stage, reduce long-term medical complications, and improve overall productivity by ensuring timely medical attention for workers.

The drive also reflects the government’s focus on expanding worker welfare benefits under evolving labour reforms, with an emphasis on accessible and preventive healthcare.

Authorities noted that the initiative is expected to benefit a large section of the organised workforce and reinforce India’s commitment to improving occupational health standards.

Swasth Bharat Portal Launched to Strengthen India’s Integrated Digital Health System

New Delhi, May 6 (BNP): Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has launched the Swasth Bharat Portal, a unified digital platform designed to integrate fragmented health programme systems and advance India’s digital health transformation.

The portal was unveiled during the 10th National Summit on Innovation and Inclusivity, marking a significant step toward building a more connected, efficient, and scalable public health infrastructure.

Developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the platform serves as a single-window system that connects multiple national health programme applications through API-based integration. It aims to eliminate data silos, reduce duplication, and improve the overall efficiency of health service delivery.

The system enables frontline health workers such as ASHAs, ANMs, Community Health Officers, and Medical Officers to access multiple programmes through one interface, reducing the need for multiple logins and repetitive data entry. It also includes data visualization tools to support real-time monitoring and informed decision-making at the local level.

Aligned with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, the portal facilitates secure exchange of health records and is expected to integrate with national registries, including healthcare professionals and health facility databases, to improve interoperability across the ecosystem.

According to the Ministry, the platform is expected to reduce infrastructure load by 20–30% and cut data entry and duplication efforts by 20–40%, leading to improved efficiency and faster decision-making across health programmes.

Officials stated that the Swasth Bharat Portal represents a major step toward data-driven governance in the health sector, streamlining processes, improving coordination, and strengthening India’s digital public health infrastructure.