Lifestyle

New Delhi, May 24 (IANS) Orthopaedic experts on Sunday raised concerns over a sharp rise in hip arthritis and avascular necrosis (AVN) cases among younger and middle-aged Indians in the post-COVID period, warning that severe hip damage linked to steroid use during the pandemic is driving a surge in total hip replacement surgeries across the country.

Speaking at the 2nd Delhi HIP 360 Conference here, leading orthopaedic specialists said hospitals are witnessing a growing number of patients in their 30s and 40s suffering from advanced hip joint damage, stiffness, limping, and difficulty in walking.

The conference was organised by the Delhi Orthopaedic Association in association with the Indian Arthroplasty Association and brought together orthopaedic surgeons, arthroplasty specialists, fellows, and residents from across the country to discuss advancements in total hip arthroplasty, robotic-assisted surgeries, rehabilitation, and management of post-COVID hip complications.

Dr. L Tomar, Organising Chairman of DELHI HIP 360 and Director of the Department of Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement at Max Hospital, said doctors are observing nearly a 40 per cent rise in hip replacement surgeries among younger patients.

“Steroids played a life-saving role during the COVID pandemic, but indiscriminate or prolonged use in some patients has been associated with a rise in osteonecrosis and early degenerative changes in the hip joint. We are now seeing relatively younger patients coming with severe hip damage, collapse of the femoral head, and advanced arthritis requiring early hip replacement surgeries,” he said.

Dr. Karun Jain, Organising Secretary of the conference, said many patients ignore early signs such as groin pain and stiffness, often mistaking them for muscular discomfort.

“One of the biggest challenges with AVN is delayed diagnosis. By the time patients seek medical advice, the hip joint may already have undergone irreversible collapse. Awareness, timely MRI evaluation, and early intervention can help reduce disability,” he said.

Dr. Gaurav Govil said total hip replacement has become one of the most successful procedures in modern orthopaedics due to improvements in surgical planning, implants, and rehabilitation methods.

“With better implants, advanced surgical planning, and faster rehabilitation techniques, patients are able to return to normal life much earlier than before. However, the focus must remain on early diagnosis and evidence-based treatment to prevent avoidable disability,” he said.

--IANS

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Washington, May 23 (IANS) Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence, on Friday resigned from her position, citing her husband's ill-health.

"I am deeply grateful for the trust President Trump placed in me and for the opportunity to lead Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) for the last year-and-a-half. Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation effective from June 30. My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. He faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months. At this time, I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this battle." Gabbard said in her resignation letter addressed to the US President Donald Trump.

She said that while significant progress has been made at the ODNI in advancing "uprecedented transparency and restoring integrity to the intelligence community", there is still important work to be done.

She noted that she is fully committed to ensuring a smooth and thorough transition over the coming weeks to avoid any disruptions for the US President and his team in leadership or momentum.

Gabbard praised her husband for his support through her deployment to East Africa on Joint Special Operations mission political campaigns and her service in the role of Director of National Intelligence.

"I cannot in good conscience ask him (my husband) to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding time-consuming position," she elaborated on her decision to step aside as the US Director of National Intelligence.

Trump responded to Gabbard's resignation on social media platform Truth Social, saying, "Tulsi has done an incredible job, and we will miss her. Her highly respected Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Aaron Lukas, will serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence."

"Her (Tulsi Gabbard's) wonderful husband, Abraham, has been recently diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, and she, rightfully, wants to be with him, bringing him back to good health as they currently fight a tough battle together. I have no doubt he will soon be better than ever," the US President said.

--IANS

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Addis Ababa, May 22 (IANS) The public health risk from the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been upgraded from high to very high, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.

"We are revising our risk assessment of Ebola to very high at the national level, high at the regional level, and low at global level," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference.

Meanwhile, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) called for enhanced solidarity to rapidly contain the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, Xinhua News Agency reported.

In a statement released on Thursday, the African Union's specialised healthcare agency stressed that containing outbreaks "requires speed, coordination, and sustained support for the frontline responders and communities bearing the greatest burden."

The agency further announced that it has committed an immediate financial support of 1 million U.S. dollars to strengthen emergency operations and deployed an eight-member multidisciplinary team to Bunia in the DRC's Ituri Province.

Urging for robust African solidarity in action, the agency welcomed South Africa's contribution of 2.5 million US dollars to support Ebola response efforts. It also recognized the dedication of frontline health workers for their "commitment to ending the outbreak and protecting communities."

Meanwhile, the agency announced that, at the request of the Ugandan government, it is convening a high-level cross-border coordination meeting from Friday to Saturday, bringing together Uganda, the DRC, and South Sudan to strengthen regional preparedness and response.

According to the figures released Thursday by DRC Health Minister Roger Kamba, 626 suspected cases and 159 probable deaths have been recorded since the country declared its 17th outbreak on May 15.

The outbreak, initially reported in Ituri Province, has now affected North Kivu and South Kivu, while two confirmed cases have also been reported in the neighboring country of Uganda.

Ebola virus is highly contagious and can cause symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalized pain or malaise, and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. According to the World Health Organization, Ebola fatality rates range from 50 percent to 89 percent, depending on the viral subtype.

--IANS

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New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) As heatwave conditions intensify across parts of India, Delhi’s Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital has emerged as a pioneer in heatstroke treatment by establishing the country’s first immersion cooling facility, a globally recognised method that cools patients under water.

The specialised Heat Wave Centre, operational since 2024, is now being replicated at other healthcare facilities across the country, according to hospital officials.

Speaking to IANS about the initiative, Dr Ajay Chauhan said the facility was developed under the guidance of a committee formed by the Union Health Ministry under the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH), which functions under the National Centre for Disease Control.

Dr Chauhan said climate change has increased concerns over rising heatstroke cases, prompting experts to develop specialised cooling guidelines for patients suffering from severe heat-related illnesses.

“We found that the best practice globally is immersion cooling -- meaning cooling under water. However, such a facility did not exist anywhere in India before. So, for the first time, we brainstormed and established it here,” he said.

The Heat Wave Centre at RML Hospital has been equipped with advanced emergency treatment systems, including ice tubs, bath tubs, cooling systems, fans and air conditioning facilities to provide immediate relief to patients affected by extreme heat and heatstroke.

The centre operates round the clock to ensure emergency care is available at all times.

According to Dr Chauhan, two patients suffering from heat-related complications have already been successfully treated and discharged from the facility after recovering fully.

The senior doctor said the immersion cooling model introduced at RML Hospital is now being adopted by other institutions as India faces increasingly severe summer temperatures.

He also urged people to take precautions during the ongoing heatwave season. Dr Chauhan advised citizens to avoid stepping outdoors unless absolutely necessary and to stay hydrated by carrying cold water and consuming fluids regularly.

He recommended drinks such as lassi, buttermilk and bael sherbet to maintain hydration and body temperature.

He further cautioned that elderly people and children are particularly vulnerable to heatwave conditions and should be given special care during periods of extreme heat.

--IANS

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Jammu, May 22 (IANS) In a shocking incident, a woman in J&K’s Jammu city set herself ablaze allegedly after her boyfriend ignored her calls, police said on Friday.

Police said that the incident occurred near the Tawi bridge area on Thursday when the woman allegedly poured an inflammable substance on herself and set herself on fire in a fit of rage, they said.

A police statement said that the 22-year-old woman allegedly set herself ablaze after her boyfriend did not respond to her phone calls.

Passersby immediately rushed to her aid and managed to douse the flames before police personnel admitted her to a hospital for treatment.

The woman suffered around 80 per cent burn injuries and is undergoing treatment, police said.

A senior police officer said preliminary investigations suggest that a strained relationship was the reason behind the incident. The officer said the woman's statement was recorded in the hospital on Thursday night in the presence of a magistrate.

"She told investigators that she had not spoken to her boyfriend for the past two to three days, as he was not answering her calls. She said that she had no intention to die but acted in a fit of anger," the officer said.

Police have registered a case and initiated further investigation into the matter.

In India, "love-lorn" or "love failure" suicides refer to individuals tragically ending their lives due to heartbreak, unrequited feelings, or relationship breakups. It is a devastating social issue, frequently driven by immense social stigma and the immense personal pressure placed on youth in relationships.

Official data highlights a deeply concerning trend across the country.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), thousands of people tragically die by suicide due to "love affairs" or "failure in love" every year.

The highest risk is concentrated among teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 29.

Certain states, particularly Assam, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, consistently record higher numbers of lovelorn suicides compared to the rest of the country.

Studies indicate that many of these tragedies are compounded by strict family opposition (such as inter-caste or inter-religious relationships), familial rejection, and a general lack of accessible mental health resources to help youths navigate emotional distress.

--IANS

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New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda urged stronger global action on early lung‑health screening and responsible deployment of artificial intelligence to reshape healthcare systems.

Speaking at two high‑level side events during the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Nadda said timely screening, early diagnosis and equitable access to care lies at the heart of resilient and people-centred health systems.

He mentioned India’s National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme and the TB‑Mukt Bharat campaign as one of the world’s largest screening and early detection efforts.

He underlined that the country has “expanded active case finding among vulnerable populations through house-to-house outreach, mobile screening teams, community campaigns and focused drives in high-risk areas and among vulnerable populations.”

The minister said that India has significantly scaled up modern diagnostics to detect TB and other lung diseases.

Molecular testing platforms, digital chest X-ray services, AI-assisted interpretation tools, handheld screening devices and decentralized testing systems are being deployed extensively to reduce diagnostic delays, particularly in remote and underserved regions.

Regarding India’s digital initiatives, Nadda noted that the government has launched the TB Mukt Bharat App featuring “Khushi”, an AI-enabled multilingual chatbot designed to be accessible even on entry-level smartphones.

The platform provides real-time guidance on symptoms, entitlements and nearest diagnostic facilities, thereby helping bridge the gap between symptom onset and timely care, the statement said.

In another event on the use of artificial intelligence in the health sector, the minister highlighted AI-led health care delivery must be “shaped by sound regulation, rigorous research, ethical oversight, and a deep commitment to equity so its benefits reach every citizen”.

The minister also highlighted the launch of the Strategy for AI in Healthcare for India (SAHI) during the India AI Impact Summit in February 2026 and described it as “the first comprehensive strategy emerging from the Global South, guiding India’s healthcare journey in an ethical, transparent and people-centric manner.”

—IANS

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New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)'s multicentric Phase III clinical trial has found that Ayurvedic formulations are therapeutically equivalent to standard iron-folic acid supplementation in treating moderate iron deficiency anaemia among women, an official statement said on Thursday.

The ICMR has organised '1st ICMR Annual Clinical Trial Meet 2026' to strengthen India’s clinical trial ecosystem and advance evidence-based integrative medicine research in the country, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

According to the government, the trial -- conducted by ICMR in collaboration with the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) -- enrolled nearly 4,000 non‑pregnant women aged 18–49 with moderate anaemia.

The study compared Punarnavadi Mandura alone and in combination with Drakshavaleha against standard iron‑folic acid supplementation and assessed haemoglobin levels and clinical outcomes over a period of 90 days.

The event also witnessed the launch of the report on advancing First-in-Human Phase 1 Clinical Trials in India.

The study identified major bottlenecks affecting the advancement of early-phase clinical trials in India and recommended measures including strengthening regulatory capacity, streamlining approval processes and enhancing coordination among agencies to support innovation-driven clinical research in the country.

The report was developed through a two-round consultation involving 37 experts from the pharmaceutical industry, Contract Research Organisations (CROs), academia and national regulatory agencies.

A panel discussion saw meaningful deliberations on translating scientific evidence into public health policy and healthcare practice.

The meet brought together policymakers, scientists, clinicians, researchers, regulatory authorities and experts from diverse fields to discuss emerging opportunities, ethical frameworks, regulatory pathways and innovations in clinical research.

The dignitaries highlighted the need for robust clinical research systems, ethical governance and scientific validation of integrative healthcare practices to address emerging public health challenges and strengthen healthcare delivery mechanisms in the country.

—IANS

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New Delhi, May 20 (IANS) Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday reaffirmed India’s strong commitment to advancing the global agenda for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health, according to an official statement on Wednesday.

During a bilateral meeting with Helen Clark, Board Chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Nadda highlighted India’s longstanding association with PMNCH since its inception in 2005, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.

The minister added that the country remains proud to continue its partnership and contribute meaningfully to its objectives.

Moreover, Nadda underlined India’s active leadership role in PMNCH as Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Standing Committee, and informed that India’s annual grant contribution of $2 million in perpetuity is currently under process.

He emphasised India’s achievements in public health, saying that India has been a hub of innovation and large-scale delivery of health interventions with equity and accessibility, keeping the health of women, children and adolescents at the core of its service delivery and sustainable development efforts.

He noted that India was among the first countries to launch a dedicated national programme for adolescents in 2014, reaching young people through facility-based, school-based and community-based interventions across the country.

Referring to improvements in major indicators, Nadda said India has recorded significant reductions in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), at a pace surpassing global trends.

The minister also said India has much to offer the global community through evidence-based best practices and successful public health interventions implemented at scale and expressed readiness to provide technical guidance and support to other countries.

He invited PMNCH to showcase India’s successful models and innovations through physical and virtual platforms.

Reiterating India’s commitment as Vice Chair of PMNCH, Nadda said India is willing to support the organisation across priorities, including Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (WCAH) and the growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). He also noted India’s growing repository of technical resources and digital public health goods that can be shared globally.

In addition, Helen Clark appreciated India’s continued leadership and contributions to global public health and acknowledged its important role within PMNCH and the wider global health architecture.

--IANS

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Patna, May 19 (IANS) Even as pharmacy operators across India have called for a one-day strike on Wednesday over the lack of clear regulations governing e-pharmacies, the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) Kendras will remain operational, ensuring uninterrupted access to medicines.

The decision was taken by the PMBJK Retailer Association, which announced on Tuesday that Jan Aushadhi Kendras will continue to function, particularly at major hospitals such as AIIMS and Patna Medical College and Hospital, to avoid inconvenience to patients.

The nationwide strike by chemists has been called to demand a clear legal framework for the online sale of medicines, commonly referred to as e-pharmacy.

Industry representatives said that the absence of proper regulations has turned the sector into a grey area, raising serious concerns about public health and safety.

Pharmacists have flagged issues such as the easy availability of narcotics and Schedule H drugs online without adequate checks, which they say is contributing to misuse and societal harm.

According to pharmacy professionals, traditional chemists operate under strict provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which mandate prescription verification and limit the quantity of medicines dispensed.

In contrast, they claim that e-pharmacies often lack such safeguards.

Ravi Kumar, associated with the Bihar Chemists and Druggists Association, emphasised that uniform regulations should apply to both online and offline pharmacies to ensure patient safety.

Prasanna Kumar Singh, President of the Bihar Chemists and Druggists Association, said that many medicines require strict temperature-controlled storage (cold chain), which is often compromised during online delivery via courier services.

He warned that such lapses can reduce the efficacy of medicines and, in some cases, make them harmful.

Additionally, concerns were raised about the circulation of counterfeit drugs and the lack of proper return mechanisms in online transactions.

The association also highlighted the financial strain on traditional pharmacies due to the rapid growth of e-pharmacies.

In areas like Govind Mitra Road in Patna -- a major pharmaceutical hub -- more than 900 wholesale and retail shops reportedly generate significant monthly business.

However, the rise of online medicine sales has led to an estimated 10 per cent decline in business for offline retailers.

In Bihar alone, the sector is reportedly incurring losses of around Rs 20 crore per month, forcing many shop owners to reduce staff.

--IANS

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New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) said that cosmetic products are not permitted to be used through injections and warned that such practices violate provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Cosmetics Rules, 2020, according to a notice released on Tuesday.

In a public notice, the CDSCO said products supplied in injectable form do not fall under the definition of cosmetics and cannot be used by consumers, professionals or aesthetic clinics.

“No cosmetic is permitted to be used for injection by consumers, professionals or aesthetic clinics. Cosmetics are only intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled or sprayed on the human body,” the notice stated.

The regulator clarified that cosmetics are legally defined as products intended for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or altering the appearance of the human body or any part thereof.

“Cosmetic means any article intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled or sprayed on, or introduced into, or otherwise applied to, the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance, and includes any article intended for use as a component of cosmetic,” the regulatory stated in the notice.

It further stated that cosmetics are not permitted to be used for treatment purposes by professionals or individuals.

The CDSCO also warned against misleading claims and use of prohibited ingredients in cosmetic products, stating that such violations attract action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and related rules.

“As per the provisions of labelling, no cosmetic may purport or claim to convey any idea which is false or misleading to the intending user,” the notice said.

The regulator added that no person is allowed to alter, obliterate or deface any inscription or mark made by the manufacturer on the container, label or wrapper of a cosmetic product.

The CDSCO noted that the list of Generally Not Recognized as Safe (GNRAS) and restricted ingredients is published by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

The health regulator urged the public to report any such violations or suspicious activities to the regulatory authority or the respective state licensing authorities.

--IANS

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