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India has made remarkable progress in the field of organ transplantation, but the journey is far from complete. This week’s health coverage focuses on organ donation, starting with Dr. Prathap C. Reddy’s call for busting myths that continue to surround organ donation, where he stresses that it is not just an act of kindness but a lifeline for countless patients.
While Tamil Nadu has consistently led the country in its transplantation programme, as Dr. J. Amalorpavanathan points out, systemic bottlenecks remain. Shortages of trained personnel, uneven organ allocation systems, and gaps in infrastructure limit the reach of this life-saving therapy.
Dr. Lalit Kapoor underlines another urgent concern — the need to democratise heart transplant access across India. Most procedures remain concentrated in a few urban centres, leaving vast swathes of the country underserved. Adding to this and commemorating world organ donation day on August 13, Dr. Rahul Raibrings to light the lesser-known possibilities of living donations beyond kidneys and livers, such as partial pancreas or intestinal donations. Yet, as Viney Kirpal highlights, even those who receive a transplant face barriers — health insurance remains elusive, with companies citing high risks despite medical advances .
Moving from transplants to the roots of biological inheritance, Dr. Rakesh Mishra and Prof. Sanjeev Galande explore India’s unique genetic legacy. Our population structure, shaped by centuries of endogamy, has profound implications for ancestry tracing, personalised medicine, and understanding disease prevalence. This growing field of genomics could revolutionise how healthcare is delivered in India.
Yet for many families, the challenges begin at birth. A recent study finds that six out of every thousand deliveries in India end in stillbirths, with the highest rates recorded in northern states. Such numbers signal not only the gaps in maternal and child healthcare but also deep-rooted inequities in access to quality facilities. Dr. Rajiv Aggarwal further explains the risks when newborns fail to cry after birth — a red flag that could indicate oxygen deprivation and potential long-term complications while also busting myths over the newborn cry.
Following the Supreme Court’s order to confine stray dogs over rabies concerns, there is a lot of attention turned to the deadly disease that still claims thousands of lives in India each year despite being preventable. In our all you need to know series Zubeda Hamid writes on rabies , as its toll is particularly heavy on lower-income groups, where access to vaccines and post-bite treatment remain patchy. Adding to that, this week, Kerala witnessed a heated debate over stray dog management as rabies cases rose, highlighting the intersection of animal welfare, public health and social justice.
India has also been cautious about new vaccines. An expert panel recently advised against immediate adoption of the malaria vaccine, citing limited fit with India’s epidemiological profile. Bindu Shajan Perappadan reports that the ICMR has announced plans for wastewater surveillance across 50 cities, monitoring 10 viruses to catch outbreaks early.
Meanwhile, the measles outbreak in North America has worsened, with 18 deaths reported this year, the Pan American Health Organization confirmed. This resurgence, despite the availability of vaccines, is a sobering reminder of the consequences of lapses in immunisation.
The invisible health impacts of our environment and lifestyle were in focus this week. Dr. Raajit Chanana warns that spending a year in a city like Delhi can cause significant structural and functional damage to the lungs, even in those without pre-existing conditions. With rising pollution levels, this is no longer just a respiratory issue but a multi-system health threat.
Sleep, too, is emerging as a contested frontier. I explain what modern sleep aids do — from melatonin pills to advanced digital devices, and how they are transforming rest into a medicalised domain. Interestingly, another report points to the traditional practice of conch-blowing as a potential therapy for sleep apnoea, with effects comparable to deep breathing exercises.
Technology’s double-edged nature was evident in multiple reports this week. A study reveals that health professionals relying on AI for just three months saw a decline in their ability to detect benign tumours unaided, a warning against over-dependence. Meta’s AI rules have allowed bots to engage in inappropriate chats with children and spread false medical information. At the same time,technology can ease dementia diagnosis and support caregiving, while a team of scientists hasengineered E. coli into a mercury sensor, showing how bioengineering can aid environmental health.
As cancer care continues to evolve a study highlights how smoking status must be captured in cancer trials. Dr. Sushruth Shetty offers a view into how multidisciplinary teams are tailoring gastrointestinal cancer treatment, building both precision and patient trust. In the U.S., the FDA’s approval of Precigen’s novel immunotherapy for a rare respiratory disease reflects similar momentum in targeted therapies.
Beyond the body, mental health made headlines. The Centre’s Tele-MANAS programme has logged over 24 lakh calls since its launch in 2022, emerging as a lifeline for those struggling with psychological distress. Liza Barros Lane, writing as both a grief researcher and widow, reflects on the chaos and disorientation of early bereavement, offering evidence-based ways to cope. And Dr. Keni Ravish Rajiv draws attention to pseudodementia, a condition where depression mimics dementia symptoms, underscoring the complexity of diagnosis.
Several stories raised important ethical and policy questions. Should HIV testing be mandatory before marriage ? as N. Kumarasamy, Chief and Director of Infectious Diseases Medical Centre, Voluntary Health Services, Chennai and Jahnabi Goswami, president of the Assam Network of Positive People, discuss the question in a conversation moderated by Ramya Kannan
How can India learn from Australia’s landmark move to protect intersex rights, as argued by Gopi Shankar Madurai. And how do we define “healthocide”, a new term explored by Vasudevan Mukunth, to describe the targeted attacks on healthcare settings and health workers is no longer an isolated precedent.
On another note, in campuses, students dissented for better healthcare : the NSUI staged protests at Delhi University calling for 12 days of menstrual leave per semester. Meanwhile, Rahul Karmakar reports on calls for region-specific antivenoms to better treat India’s diverse snakebite patterns.
Across India, states continue to wrestle with localised health challenges. In Maharashtra, Snehal Mutha reports that the Health Department has integrated TB screening into family adoption programmes run by medical colleges, strengthening early detection. Telangana made headlines twice — first as reported by Siddharth Kumar Singh, an NGO in Hyderabad adopting Tamil Nadu’s doorstep NCD model in slums, and second for a bust of a commercial surrogacy and illegal egg trading racket in Medchal. In Assam, an investigation has been ordered after a newborn tragically fell from a hospital bed, raising urgent questions on basic hospital safety and oversight.
These State-level stories show how health remains a patchwork of successes, setbacks, and persistent systemic gaps.
Our tailpiece, as India marked 78 years of independence on August 15, features a reflective piece on the nation’s health gains charting undeniable progress in life expectancy, maternal health, and disease control. The task before us is to weave science, policy, and compassion into a stronger public health fabric one that does not just treat disease, but builds resilience for generations to come.
As usual, we have a list of explainers for you to check this week:
Dr. Taral Nagda emphasises the importance of paediatric bone health, showing how growth modulation can address deformities early.
Dr. Esha Gupta explains how childhood allergies manifest in diverse ways, urging timely diagnosis and management.
Dr. Indumathi Joy sheds light on fertility health, suggesting a careful balanceof identifying green flags and addressing red ones.
Anirban Mukhopadhyay writes on how Connexin proteins rally arteries to nourish brain on demand
As we mark contact lens health week from August 18 – 22, Nabeela Khan writes on what you need to know to keep your eyes safe and healthy
How does general anaesthesia work?
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Published – August 19, 2025 04:15 pm IST
