{"id":854732,"date":"2025-06-10T22:12:03","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T03:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/10\/growth-and-areas-of-concern-reading-indias-health\/"},"modified":"2025-06-10T22:12:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T03:12:03","slug":"growth-and-areas-of-concern-reading-indias-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/10\/growth-and-areas-of-concern-reading-indias-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Growth and areas of concern: Reading India\u2019s health"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

(In the weekly\u00a0Health Matters<\/b>\u00a0newsletter,\u00a0Ramya Kannan<\/b>\u00a0writes on excess deaths in India in 2021.You can\u00a0subscribe\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0to get the newsletter in your inbox.)<\/i><\/p>\n

This past week has offered a glut of data as far as health statistics are concerned: specifically, India- related data has emerged, giving us an occasion to evaluate where we stand, on many health fronts. While we must certainly celebrate the successes, hard won, it is also incumbent upon us to mark out areas of concern, and push these sectors into the public realm to collectively urge action from the State.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Firstly, the data of deaths during 2021, was finally unveiled, justifying many media accounts of excess deaths of COVID in India, at that time hotly contested by the Indian government. Now, official statistics say that\u00a0India reported 21 lakh additional deaths in 2021 compared with 2020<\/a>. After five years, the report on births and deaths released by the Registrar General of India, mentioned that the\u00a0<\/b>two lockdown years reported 5,74,198 COVID-19 deaths. The COVID-19 dashboard maintained by the Union Ministry of Health says that, as on May 5, the total number of deaths induced by the pandemic stood at 5,33,665.<\/p>\n

The report said that among the leading groups of causes, diseases of the circulatory system, including pulmonary ailments, constituted 29.8% of the total number of medically certified deaths, followed by deaths caused by COVID-19 at 17.3%; deaths caused by diseases of the respiratory system at 12.7%; and deaths caused by certain infectious and parasitic diseases at 6.1%. COVID-19 was the second-leading cause of death in 2021; it was the third-leading cause of death in 2020. Had there not been a war in the Indian subcontinent, this report would have elicited more debate and discussion.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A World Health Organization (WHO) report had earlier estimated India\u2019s \u2018excess deaths\u2019 for the period at 47 lakh. Another report in a top journal had cited 41 lakh \u2018excess deaths\u2019 in this period. But then, the government\u2019s explanation flew in the face of some hardcore facts. A government official told\u00a0Bindu Shajan Perappadan<\/b>\u00a0that\u00a0\u2018Excess deaths in 2020 and 2021 were not equal to deaths by COVID-19, and the increase was attributable to several reasons\u2019<\/a>.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

His argument ran thus: the number of deaths documented in the CRS has been increasing over time, even in the years preceding the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, and the preliminary analyses of the CRS data to assess cumulative deaths in 2020 and 2021 had been carried out. \u201cBased on the three-year (2016-19) annual rate of increase of 6.42%, the expected number of deaths would be 81,31,869 in 2020, and 86,54,185 in 2021. However, the observed deaths were 81,15,882 in 2020, and 1,02,24,506 in 2021. The \u2018excess deaths\u2019, defined as observed deaths deducted from expected deaths were minus [-]15,987 and 15,70,321 in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Thus, the total excess deaths over the two-year period amounted to 15,54,334 \u2014 this is 9.3% higher than the expected deaths. This translates into about 1,249 excess deaths per one million population,\u201d the official said.<\/p>\n

He further argued that the increase in deaths registered in the CRS could be attributed to several reasons, including a larger population cohort, maturing reporting processes, and increased awareness of the need for registration leading to higher levels of registration. This trend has been further accentuated over the years by mandatory requirements for death certificates linked to pension schemes, social security benefits, and property issues. Moreover, the official said, compensation for death by COVID-19 required death certification, prompting registration under the CRS.<\/p>\n

The other report that was keenly watched, did not have the Indian government bristling in defence. That is because the media reported that\u00a0India went up three spots to 130 among 193 nations in Human Development Index<\/a>. India continued its steady rise on the Human Development Index (HDI), ranking 130 out of 193 countries in the\u00a02025 Human Development Report (HDR)\u00a0of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). With its HDI value increasing from 0.676 in 2022 to 0.685 in 2023, India remains in the medium human development category, moving closer to the threshold for high human development (HDI \u2265 0.700). Also, India\u2019s life expectancy is the highest since the inception of the index, indicating a strong recovery from the pandemic and its impact on life expectancy.<\/p>\n

Clearly the country\u2019s interventions to improve maternal and infant mortality and better the standards of living for the citizens of the country are showing some ameliorative effects. This was also indicated in the\u00a0latest Sample Registration System data<\/a>, also released last week. The Union Health Ministry claims that India outpaces global averages. Three States in India \u2014 Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu \u2014 have attained the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets in Maternal Mortality Rate or MMR; Under-Five Mortality Rate or U5MR; and Neonatal Mortality Rate or NMR. According to the report, eight States have already attained the MMR SDG target, including Kerala (20), Maharashtra (38), Telangana (45), Andhra Pradesh (46), Tamil Nadu (49), Jharkhand (51), Gujarat (53), and Karnataka (63). Twelve States\/Union Territories have already attained the U5MR SDG target \u2014 Kerala (eight), Delhi (14), Tamil Nadu (14), Jammu & Kashmir (16), Maharashtra (16), West Bengal (20), Karnataka (21), Punjab (22), Telangana (22), Himachal Pradesh (23), Andhra Pradesh (24), and Gujarat (24).<\/p>\n

Vijaita Singh<\/b>\u00a0recorded that as per the SRS, the\u00a0Total Fertility Rate remains constant at 2.0 in 2021<\/a>, and here is a further update on\u00a0India\u2019s latest Maternal Mortality Ratio<\/a>.\u00a0Afshan Yasmeen<\/b>\u00a0looks at the southern region\u2019s data and reasons\u00a0Karnataka\u2019s MMR reduces to 63 per lakh live births, but is still highest among southern States<\/a>. Siddharth Kumar Singh<\/b>\u00a0reports on public health expert K. Srinath Reddy\u2019s position that\u00a0\u2018India\u2019s healthy life expectancy lags a decade behind total lifespan\u2019<\/a>.\u00a0Serena Josephine M. f<\/b>urther outlines the Tamil Nadu success story, and records better under 5 mortality rate:\u00a0In T.N., comprehensive nutritional, immunisation services pay off with steadily decreasing deaths among under-fives<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Moving from statistics-based progress to achievements in labs. A recent\u00a0Study found migraine drug can reduce depressive symptoms in patients having both<\/a>. In the\u00a0study\u00a0involving 540 patients, \u2018fremanezumab\u2019 was found to\u00a0reduce days of migraine\u00a0in a month and symptoms of depression, compared to a placebo (inactive substance producing no effects). The drug, administered as an injection beneath the skin (subcutaneous), is available in India.<\/p>\n

V. Geetanath\u00a0<\/b>reports that\u00a0NIAB scientists perform CRISPR-based genetic manipulation to identify protein to halt zoonotic infection \u2018Toxoplasmosis\u2019<\/a>. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonotic infection that can be transmitted through contaminated food, especially undercooked meat. The parasitic infection caused by \u2018Toxoplasma gondii\u2019 can lead to abortion and neonatal mortality in both humans and animals, causing substantial economic losses in the livestock industry due to reproductive failure. Which makes this advance significant.<\/p>\n

In other news, an\u00a0AI tool uses selfies to predict biological age and cancer survival<\/a>; and a San Francisco based company says its\u00a0at-home test kit for cervical cancer was approved by the FDA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Climate change is going nowhere, and we report on the many ramifications, this week too. Summer is in the subcontinent, and we cannot ignore the impact of a changing climate: it manifests in many forms, not the least sweat, urging our attention.\u00a0Sharmila Vaidyanathan\u00a0<\/b>underlines the gut impact in this article\u00a0Climate change is disrupting the human gut in a new path to illness<\/a>. Apparently, climate-induced changes in the yield and nutritional quality of various foods could tip the balance of gut microbiota towards strains associated with malnutrition.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Dr. Amrish Patel<\/b>\u00a0writes on\u00a0the temperature-asthma link: increasing heat is worsening symptoms in asthma patients, causing new cases among the healthy<\/a>, while\u00a0Dr. Ankit Sharma<\/b>\u00a0Decodes the link between summer and kidney stones<\/a>, yes, a link exists.\u00a0Aravind Unni<\/b>\u00a0and\u00a0Shalini Sinha\u00a0<\/b>make the case that\u00a0<\/b>It is time to protect India\u2019s workers from the heat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Last week we reported of a\u00a0new subtype of monogenic diabetes<\/a>\u00a0discovered by the researchers of Madras Diabetes Research Foundation and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. MODY is a rare, inherited form of diabetes caused by mutations in a single gene, typically appearing in adolescents and young adults. While 13 MODY subtypes have been recognised to date, the newly-identified variant challenges long-standing assumptions about the condition, doctors said.<\/p>\n

Drawing from climate change and staying on non communicable diseases, we talk about\u00a0Manish Anand and Vidhu Gupta\u2019s<\/b>\u00a0article:\u00a0Sprouting sustainable, nutrition-sensitive food systems<\/a>\u00a0here. Food insecurity is no longer just about hunger. It now encompasses all forms of malnutrition, including diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Millions, including food producers, struggle to afford a healthy diet. They advise that nutrition-sensitive agriculture is central, requiring agricultural policies that integrate nutrition objectives by promoting the cultivation of climate-resilient, biofortified crops, enhancing crop diversity, and improving post-harvest storage systems to bolster food security and dietary quality.<\/p>\n

Shrabana Chatterjee\u00a0<\/b>writes of increasing infertility and the need to stem stigma and misinformation, in context, in this\u00a0article<\/a>.\u00a0<\/b>The basic problem arises out of looking at it as a \u2018woman\u2019s problem\u2019, she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the infectious diseases bandwidth, today, we have\u00a0R. Prasad\u00a0<\/b>reporting:\u00a0Kerala reports seventh Nipah outbreak since 2018<\/a>.\u00a0\u200bThe Hindu\u2019s edit on the subject Greater regularity: On the Nipah virus<\/a>,\u00a0calls for sharing genetic sequences in public databases without any delay, in order to conduct more research.\u00a0Athira Elssa Johnson<\/b>\u00a0argues that\u00a0India needs patient-centric care and trained counsellors to manage Inflammatory Bowel Diseases burden: experts<\/a>, ahead of World IBD Day on May 19. And testing for HIV becomes an issue in parts of\u00a0T.N. face as a shortage of HIV test kits<\/a>\u00a0hits the State.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While India has a robust private health care system, it is clear that the biggest deliverer of health services in the country is the public health system and do read this important piece by\u00a0Dr. C. Aravinda<\/b>\u00a0delineating its fault lines:\u00a0Scattered public health services, fragmented governance<\/a>.\u00a0Dr. K. Ganapathy<\/b>\u00a0further talks about\u00a0Medical accountability in the digital health era: the pros and the pitfalls.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Not the least, remembering the war-like situation the country was forced into last week,\u00a0Dr. Kinshuk Gupta, Prof Suneela Garg and Prof Mongjam Meghachandra Singh<\/b>\u00a0write a timely article on\u00a0Health preparedness in situations of war<\/a>. An article our health managers will do well to stick by.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the\u00a0tailpiece<\/b>\u00a0segment of the week, the parley conversation between Dr. Meghna Singhal and Sannuthi Suresh should be highlighted for the depth of opinions it brought on. You can read, and listen to this conversation moderated by\u00a0me<\/b>, on the link:\u00a0Is social media defining self-worth?<\/a>\u00a0What is clear is that snooping on your adolescent\u2019s social media use is not going to get you anywhere, as adults, the best thing parents can do is to ensure that the channels of communication remain open with their children.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Our\u00a0explainers<\/b>\u00a0section did overtime this week, but that leaves us with a wealth of information that you will have access to online.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the\u00a0All you need to know<\/b>\u00a0series, we have\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Zubeda Hamid<\/b>\u00a0on\u00a0cystic fibrosis<\/a>;\u00a0Geetha Srimathi\u00a0<\/b>on\u00a0Lafora Disease<\/a>, and others write on\u00a0Lupus<\/a>; and\u00a0the Barker hypothesis<\/a>\u00a0about the impact of the intrauterine atmosphere on humans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Saurabh Khiste<\/b>\u00a0explains if\u00a0intermittent fasting helps or harms kidney health?<\/a><\/p>\n

We also handle a range of subjects, beginning with\u00a0Is climate change increasing the levels of toxic arsenic in our rice?<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0Why did T.N. ban mayonnaise made from raw eggs?<\/a>\u00a0and as basic as\u00a0Why does our temperature go up when we are ill?<\/a><\/p>\n

There are explainers on\u00a0How did India\u2019s national health programmes contributed to increased longevity?<\/a>\u00a0And a video you can watch on the subject:\u00a0Can drugs like Ozempic solve the obesity problem in India?<\/a><\/p>\n

If you have a few extra moments,\u00a0do read<\/b>:<\/p>\n

Vidhya P.<\/b>\u00a0on\u00a0Celebrating the compassion, commitment and courage of nurses<\/a>\u00a0on Nurses Day<\/p>\n

Elizabeth Hintz and Marlene D. Berke<\/b>\u00a0in The Conversation\u00a0When doctors don\u2019t believe their patients\u2019 pain \u2013 experts explain the all-too-common experience of medical gaslighting<\/a><\/p>\n

Access to funds and affordable treatments remain key challenges in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy care in India<\/a><\/p>\n

A silent burden: Thalassaemia patients in Karnataka battle disease with hope and hardship<\/a><\/p>\n

Science Quiz: On skin cancer<\/a><\/p>\n

For many more\u00a0health\u00a0stories, head to\u00a0our\u00a0health\u00a0page<\/a>\u00a0and subscribe to the\u00a0health\u00a0newsletter\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Published – May 13, 2025 04:03 pm IST<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(In the weekly\u00a0Health Matters\u00a0newsletter,\u00a0Ramya Kannan\u00a0writes on excess deaths in India in 2021.You can\u00a0subscribe\u00a0here\u00a0to get the newsletter in your inbox.) This past week has offered a glut of data as far as health statistics are concerned: specifically, India- related data has emerged, giving us an occasion to evaluate where we stand, on many health fronts. While<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":854733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31101,23317],"tags":[10737,5805],"class_list":{"0":"post-854732","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","8":"category-growth","10":"tag-growth"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/854732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=854732"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/854732\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/854733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=854732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=854732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=854732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}