The latest WHO report entitled World Health Statistics 2014 delineates the performance made on the health front by India vis-à-vis other nations between 1990 and 2012. It also presents the challenges that the new government at the Centre should try to resolve. In India, life expectancy at birth (both sexes, in years) has increased from 58 in 1990 to 66 in 2012. While life expectancy at birth for men rose from 57...

-Down to Earth   Delhi High Court exempts four private hospitals from treating the poor for free. Experts fear other hospitals will follow Many a poor patient has benefitted from the Supreme Court's 2011 order which mandates that all private hospitals which received land at a lower price from the government have to treat a certain number of people from the economically weaker sections (EWS) for free. Take the case of four-year-old Shagun, born...

-Live Mint   Strong political commitment is needed to build a system of universal health coverage and better regulations   Life expectancy in India has more than doubled since independence, to 65 years, from just 32 in 1950. The infant mortality rate has been cut by two-thirds since 1971. Smallpox and guinea worm have been eradicated, the spread of HIV/AIDS has been contained, and the World Health Organization has declared India polio-free.   Yet for all...

-The Hindu Hyderabad: The road to motherhood is fraught with risks for women visiting the two government maternity hospitals in the city, says a recent study by women's group ‘Stree Vimukti Sanghatana'. A report detailing the matter was presented to Principal Secretary, Health, L.V. Subramanyam on Monday. The study reveals the appalling conditions prevalent at the teaching hospitals at Petla Burz and Koti, which are frequented by poor pregnant women from Old...

-Outlook New Delhi: The Delhi Government is working on an ambitious health plan for the city to boost its medical infrastructure and provide better facilities to public. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made this announcement today at a press conference, stating that details of the plan is being worked out. Kejriwal, at the same time, also hinted at scrapping a few hospital projects which have been lying in the cold storage for many years...