CURRENT AFFAIRS

Recent data show that while States have steadily increased health expenditure, the Union government’s health spending as a share of GDP has declined in the post-pandemic period. This divergence has raised concerns about the Centre’s fiscal prioritisation of health, especially in the context of national commitments to strengthen public healthcare and reduce out-of-pocket expenditure.

Recently, the Government of Kerala officially declared Bacillus subtilis as its “State Microbe.” The objective is to promote biodiversity conservation, biotechnology research, and awareness of microbiology among students.

Recently, an analysis of medical data from more than half a million (500,000+) people revealed that individuals with schizophrenia have a significantly higher risk of weak bones and fractures compared to the general population.

Under the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (2016–2030), India aims to eliminate malaria by 2030, with an interim target of stopping indigenous transmission nationwide by 2027.

In Foshan city of Guangdong Province, China, a norovirus outbreak has occurred in a senior high school, where 103 students have been reported infected.

Recently, several cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) have been reported in Mansa town of Neemuch district, Madhya Pradesh.

Recently, the foundation stone for the country's first medical colleges based on the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model has been laid in the tribal-dominated areas of Madhya Pradesh, transforming India's health infrastructure. This initiative will not only make medical education accessible but also improve the quality of health services in remote areas.

Since 1991, it has been established that folic acid supplementation by women before pregnancy can prevent more than 70% of spina bifida cases. Despite this, even after three decades, India remains one of the few countries where no concrete and widespread efforts have been made to increase public awareness about this effective measure. As a result, India continues to have one of the highest prevalence rates of spina bifida in the world.

India has crossed a major public health milestone, with 50,373 public health facilities across all States and Union Territories certified under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS). This marks a significant leap in institutionalising quality, safety, and patient-centric care across the public healthcare system.

Recently, a new chapter in integrative medicine began with the release of the "Delhi Declaration" at the World Health Organization's (WHO) Second Global Summit on Traditional Medicine.