-PTI New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal has directed the Centre to pay Rs 5,000 for delays in filing its reply to a retired army officer who alleged dumping of human excreta by aircraft over residential areas near the Indira Gandhi International Airport here. Lt. Gen. (Retd) Satwant Singh Dahiya has sought criminal proceedings against commercial airlines and imposition of hefty fines on them for endangering the health of people living near...

-The Times of India Carrying anti snake venom in ambulances can mean the difference between life and death for snake bite victims. The impact of this practical intervention was observed while transporting snake bite victims to health facilities in 108 emergency ambulance service across the country, which is free of cost. The first documentation of the life-saving innovation, wherein snake bite victims were administered anti-snake venom (ASV) in the emergency ambulance on...

-The Indian Express The rights-based approach departs from the ‘assurance-based approach’ of the new National Health Policy, which essentially perpetuates the status quo, explains The Indian Express. Since the time the Mental Health Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha in 2013, decriminalisation of suicide has been its calling card. However, the legislation travels beyond just that colonial era relic, assuming a rights-based approach to mental healthcare, and creating circumstances for removal of...

-Livemint.com Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh have started their own versions of Tamil Nadu’s Amma canteens that provide food at heavily subsidized rates New Delhi: The late J. Jayalalithaa’s government in Tamil Nadu had launched Amma Unavagam (Mother’s canteen) with much fanfare in 2013. Meant to provide wholesome food at heavily subsidized rates, the canteens which are run by the government but staffed by women from self-help groups have been a runaway...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: The Indian government is mulling monetary incentives to private doctors who provide correct treatment to patients with tuberculosis and financial and nutritional support to patients under new strategies to eliminate TB as a public health problem by 2025. The Union health ministry's "national strategic plan for tuberculosis elimination 2017-2025" also seeks to enhance investments in diagnostic tools and treatment to help cut the country's new TB cases from...