Govt to host Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY hackathon finale in Bengaluru

IANS | May 6, 2026 3:09 PM

New Delhi, May 6 (IANS) The government will host the grand finale and showcase of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) Auto-Adjudication Hackathon in Bengaluru on May 8-9, aimed at leveraging artificial intelligence to strengthen health claims processing, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday.

Pakistan staring at health emergency but govt's monitoring remains inconsistent: Report

IANS | May 5, 2026 7:32 PM

Islamabad, May 5 (IANS) A public health emergency is unfolding in Pakistan as a recent joint study by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and Pakistan's Ministry of National Health Services has revealed that four in every 10 children aged 12 to 36 months in high-risk urban areas carry lead in their blood. The cities surveyed in the report, including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi, are not remote or marginal spaces but economic and population centres, a report has stated.

India, Japan commit to stronger healthcare systems, resilient supply chains

IANS | May 5, 2026 3:10 PM

New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) The third Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) on Healthcare between India and Japan was held here on Tuesday, with both sides committing to deepen cooperation for stronger healthcare systems, resilient medical supply chains and enhanced collaboration in digital health, medical innovation and workforce development.

India among countries with comprehensive national framework for rare diseases: Govt

IANS | May 5, 2026 2:13 PM

New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) The government on Tuesday said that the need for addressing rare diseases was first highlighted in the National Health Policy, 2017, and was subsequently institutionalized through the launch of the National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021, which has positioned India among countries with a comprehensive national framework for rare diseases.

Fire safety a shared responsibility: Health Secretary

IANS | May 4, 2026 4:27 PM

New Delhi, May 4 (IANS) Emphasising that ensuring safety within institutions is a shared and collective responsibility, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava on Monday inaugurated the nationwide observance of Fire Safety Week, aimed at strengthening preparedness and prevention systems across healthcare facilities.

Banned reusable syringes available in Pakistan despite rise in hepatitis cases: Report

IANS | May 3, 2026 8:24 PM

Islamabad, May 3 (IANS) The WHO's Global Hepatitis Report 2026 has revealed that Pakistan is the single largest contributor to the number of people living with hepatitis C in the world, even as field reports from different parts of the country revealed continued availability of banned reusable syringes and fake auto-disable syringes in the market, which experts fear can cause transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV, when used repeatedly by unqualified practitioners.