health ministry

August 13, 2025 11:24 AM

Centre launches SHRESTH Index to boost state drug regulatory systems

The Union Health Ministry on Tuesday launched the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH), an initiative aimed at benchmarking and strengthening state drug regulatory systems through a transparent, data-driven framework. Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, unveiling the index alongside Drug Controller General of India Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, said the initiative will help states identify gaps in their regulatory capacity and work towards achieving “maturity certifi...

June 11, 2025 3:32 PM

Health ministry issues advisory as Delhi sizzles, urges people to stay indoors during peak hours

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning that daytime temperatures in Delhi may soar to 45 degrees Celsius, the Health Ministry on Wednesday urged people to stay indoors during peak hours, and stay hydrated. The IMD has issued an orange alert for the national capital on Wednesday. The IMD has warned that daytime temperatures in Delhi could reach as high as 45 degrees Celsius, with night-time lows hovering around 29 degrees Celsius. The ongoing weather conditions are part of a pro...

February 7, 2025 6:13 PM

TB Mukt Bharat campaign screens 5.63 crore people, notifies 1.59 lakh new TB patients: Nadda

The Health Ministry’s 100-day intensified TB Mukt Bharat campaign has screened 5.63 crore vulnerable people and notified 1.59 lakh new TB patients from 347 districts, said Union Health Minister JP Nadda in Parliament on Friday. The 100-day campaign, which started on December 7, 2024, and will continue till March 24, aims to end TB five years ahead of the global target. The campaign targets 347 high-priority districts across 33 States/UTs. “Since the launch of the 100-day intensified TB eli...

January 6, 2025 12:11 PM

ICMR detects two cases of HMPV in Karnataka, surveillance indicates no unusual surge

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Monday confirmed that two cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) cases have been detected in Karnataka. The cases, detected as part of ICMR's ongoing efforts to monitor respiratory illnesses, highlight the effectiveness of the country's robust surveillance systems, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. HMPV, a respiratory virus already in circulation worldwide, including India, has been linked to respiratory illnesses in several ...

December 31, 2024 10:55 AM

Health Ministry cracks down on spurious drugs, major seizure in Kolkata

In a major crackdown on counterfeit medicines, a large consignment of suspected spurious anti-cancer and anti-diabetic drugs was seized during a joint operation by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and the West Bengal Drugs Control Directorate in Kolkata. During the operation, authorities confiscated a substantial quantity of anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and other medications, valued at approximately Rs. 6.60 crore. The drugs, labelled as originating from countries such as...

September 9, 2024 8:55 PM

West African clade 2 Mpox case confirmed in India: Health Ministry

A man who recently returned from a country experiencing Mpox transmission has tested positive for the virus, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced on Monday. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the West African clade-2 Mpox virus in the individual, marking this as a travel-related case. In a statement, the Health Ministry emphasized that the case is isolated, akin to the 30 previous Mpox cases reported in India since July 2022. It also clarified that this instance is unrela...

September 9, 2024 3:18 PM

Health Ministry issues advisory on “Mpox” preparedness to states and UTs

The Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory to all states and union territories on precautionary measures for "Mpox," a disease declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). India has yet to report any confirmed cases of Mpox. However, the advisory outlines key public health actions necessary to prevent potential cases or deaths. States and union territories have been urged to widely circulate the Ministry's "Guidelines for Management o...

September 16, 2024 6:17 PM

Heatwave: Health Minister directs setting up of special units in central govt hospitals, know dos & don’ts

Union Health Minister JP Nadda reviewed the heatwave situation across the country on Wednesday and instructed the establishment of special heatwave units in central government hospitals. The minister also assessed the preparedness of hospitals to deal with heatwave with senior officials of the Health Ministry. The Health Minister has directed officials to ensure all hospitals are prepared to provide the best healthcare to those affected by the heatwave. Under the direction of the Union Health M...

September 16, 2024 6:10 PM

Will ensure better healthcare infrastructure & facilities: Health Minister Nadda

Newly appointed Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday vowed to make every effort to ensure better healthcare infrastructure and facilities, ensuring no one is left behind in receiving better treatment after he was allocated health ministry, a portfolio he held in the first term of the Modi government. He also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving him the roles of Minister of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), and Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers. In a post shared...

September 16, 2024 6:37 PM

Health Ministry advises employers to take essential heat safety measures at workplace

Amid rising heatwave, the Ministry of Health, has advised employers to take essential heat safety measures at the workplace. In a social media post, Health Ministry said from providing hydration stations to scheduling outdoor tasks during cooler hours, let’s ensure our workers stay cool, healthy, and productive. The ministry called on employers to provide proper drinking water facilities at the workplace. Sharing the tips, Ministry said schedule strenuous and outdoor jobs in cooler times of...