Health | DD News

February 11, 2026 11:20 AM

Medical misinformation more likely to fool AI if source appears legitimate, study shows

Artificial intelligence tools are more likely to provide incorrect medical advice when the misinformation comes from what the software considers to be an authoritative source, a new study found. In tests of 20 open-source and proprietary large language models, the software was more often tricked by mistakes in realistic-looking doctors' discharge notes than by mistakes in social media conversations, researchers reported in The Lancet Digital Health. "Current AI systems can treat confident medi...

February 11, 2026 12:30 PM

AI no better than other methods for patients seeking medical advice, study shows

Asking AI about medical symptoms does not help patients make better decisions about their health than other methods, such as a standard internet search, according to a new study published in Nature Medicine. The authors said the study was important as people were increasingly turning to AI and chatbots for advice on their health, but without evidence that this was necessarily the best and safest approach. Researchers led by the University of Oxford’s Internet Institute worked alongside a gro...

December 7, 2025 3:44 PM

US signs $228 million deal with Rwanda for health in new aid model

The United States and Rwanda have signed a five-year deal for the provision of $228 million for the health sector in the East African nation, the State Department said, the second such pact under the Trump administration's new approach to overseas aid. Kenya became the first country this week to strike a deal with Washington under "America First Global Health Strategy", which was unveiled in September by the administration and seeks to improve target countries' self-reliance in managing their h...

December 6, 2025 5:40 PM

Shingles vaccine reduces risk of death from dementia, study finds

People with dementia who received a shingles vaccine were significantly less likely to die from dementia than those who didn’t get the shot, according to findings of a large study, suggesting the vaccine could slow progression of the disease. Overall, nearly half of the more than 14,000 seniors in Wales who had dementia at the start of the vaccination program died from dementia during nine years of follow-up. But receipt of Merck's MRK.N Zostavax vaccine lowered the risk of death from deme...

October 3, 2025 7:40 PM

India holds potential to become global hub for affordable healthcare: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh on Friday said that India holds the potential to emerge as a global destination for cost-effective, high-quality healthcare. Speaking at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) in Thiruvananthapuram, the Minister inaugurated an exhibition on “Innovation for Self-Reliance - Accelerating Healthcare with Indigenous Medical Device Development - The Sree Chitra Contr...

September 19, 2025 12:49 PM

Holistic approach to nutrition: Poshan Maah integrates health, education and technology

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah on September 17, 2025, along with the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan, marking a renewed push for nutrition-centric development in line with his vision of Sashakt Nari, Suposhit Bharat. The initiative, which has become a nationwide movement since its inception in 2018, seeks to place nutrition at the heart of India’s development agenda, targeting children under six, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers t...

September 4, 2025 8:52 AM

Next-gen GST reforms: Health, life insurance made tax-free, several medical essentials made cheaper

The landmark next-generation GST reforms that were announced on Wednesday include significant relief to citizens in the healthcare and insurance sectors. One of the biggest announcements is the complete removal of GST on individual health and life insurance. Until now, they have attracted 18 per cent GST. With the new reform, they have been moved to the zero-tax bracket, making health and life insurance more affordable and accessible to a wider section of society. These reforms, cleared by the ...

September 2, 2025 5:10 PM

Pollution and pathogens: Double trouble for Delhi’s residents, says study

Invisible microbes may be lurking in Delhi’s polluted air, silently increasing health risks for millions of residents. A new study by scientists from the Bose Institute, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has revealed that airborne pathogenic bacteria - responsible for respiratory, gastrointestinal, oral, and skin infections—are twice as abundant in densely populated parts of Delhi compared to less crowded regions. The research, published in the in...

July 8, 2025 2:59 PM

‘No palm oil’ label is misleading marketing tactic, says IFBA

The Indian Food and Beverage Association (IFBA) has termed the growing trend of “No Palm Oil” labels on consumer products as misleading and described it as a marketing gimmick rather than a scientifically backed health claim. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the association expressed concern that selective branding tactics were creating confusion among consumers, despite palm oil being widely used and consumed in India since the 19th century. “Palm oil has a recognised role in a healthy...

June 29, 2025 2:10 PM

From WHO to ILO, PM Modi highlights India’s achievements in health, social security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India is making steady progress across various sectors, particularly in healthcare and social protection. He cited major milestones such as the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the country Trachoma-free and the significant increase in the number of people covered under social security schemes. Addressing the 123rd episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann ki Baat', PM Modi said that India is advancing in every sphere - from healthcare...