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Healthcare Policy

NFHS-6 Findings to Be Released Soon, Says Health Ministry

/ Health & Wellness Community

The sixth edition of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6), one of India’s most extensive health data studies, is expected to be released shortly, according to an official from the Union Health Ministry. Conducted during 2023-24, the survey covered 6,79,238 households across all States and Union Territories, making it a significant source of nationwide health and demographic insights. For the first time, NFHS-6 was carried out entirely through digital data collection using computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) software. Officials said the system included real-time error detection, built-in validation checks, and continuous data scrutiny to improve accuracy and efficiency. The ministry added that the survey process involved strict field supervision, close monitoring, and multiple levels of data verification to ensure consistency and reliability of results. The previous round, NFHS-5, was conducted during 2019-21. NFHS remains one of India’s largest and most comprehensive sample surveys, designed to provide reliable information on health, nutrition, population trends, and related indicators. The findings are widely used by policymakers and programme managers to measure progress and guide decisions in the health sector. Source: The Hindu

NFHS-6 Findings to Be Released Soon, Says Health Ministry Read More »

NMC Proposes Easier Norms for New Medical Colleges, Stricter PG Standards in Draft Reforms

/ Health & Wellness Community

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has introduced draft amendments to its 2023 regulations, aiming to simplify the process of establishing medical colleges while simultaneously tightening the quality benchmarks for postgraduate (PG) medical education. Under the proposed changes, the Commission plans to relax eligibility norms, enabling more trusts and societies to set up medical institutions. At the same time, it is reinforcing stricter compliance requirements for PG programmes, focusing on infrastructure, faculty strength, and clinical exposure. Stakeholders have been invited to submit feedback on the draft regulations by May 7. A key reform targets doctors serving under the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS). The NMC has proposed a single-State registration system, allowing AFMS doctors to practice nationwide during active service without requiring multiple State licences. However, upon retirement, they will need to re-register in the State where they intend to practice. The amendments also aim to streamline administrative processes. Annual licence renewals would be centrally managed to prevent lapses, while cases of professional misconduct will be handled by the registration council, based on inputs from the State where the issue arises. Additionally, teaching experience gained in unrecognised departments will no longer be considered valid. To ensure higher standards in PG medical education, the NMC has proposed revised norms, including a minimum of 220 beds for standalone PG institutes, at least 80% bed occupancy, and a stricter faculty-to-student ratio of 1:2. Private medical colleges will be limited to a maximum of four seats when launching or expanding PG courses. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel informed the Rajya Sabha that 43 new medical colleges have been established for the 2025–26 academic year. The government has also approved 11,682 MBBS seats and 8,967 PG seats nationwide. The Union Health Ministry continues to support expansion through a centrally sponsored scheme focused on setting up medical colleges linked to district and referral hospitals, particularly in underserved and aspirational regions. So far, 157 colleges have been approved under this initiative, with substantial financial backing from both central and state governments. These proposed reforms reflect a dual approach—expanding access to medical education while ensuring tighter quality control across institutions. Source: The Hindu Photo Credit: Getty Images  

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217 Organ Transplant Hospitals Fail to Submit Data to National Registry in 2025

/ Health & Wellness Community

As many as 217 hospitals authorised to perform organ transplants across India did not submit their data to the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Registry Portal in 2025, the government informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav stated that appropriate action against these hospitals will be taken by the respective state governments. In a written reply, the minister said that out of 804 hospitals registered to conduct organ transplantation, 217 failed to upload the required information on the registry portal during the year. Under the provisions of the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, regulatory action against such institutions falls under the jurisdiction of state authorities where the hospitals are located. Hospital registrations for organ transplant procedures are handled by the appropriate authorities of the states and Union Territories. The National Organ and Tissue Transplant Registry Portal has been operational since 2015 and can be accessed by authorised users through the website of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation. According to data uploaded by hospitals and transplant centres on the portal, the waiting list for major organ transplants in India stood at 89,839 as of March 3, 2026. During 2025, a total of 20,019 organ transplant procedures were carried out nationwide. The central government is currently implementing the National Organ Transplant Programme, which focuses on strengthening infrastructure for transplantation services and promoting awareness about organ donation. As part of this initiative, Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations and State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organizations have been established across several states and Union Territories in the northern, eastern, and north-eastern regions of the country, with a few exceptions. Source: PTI Photo Credit: iStockphoto/Getty Images

217 Organ Transplant Hospitals Fail to Submit Data to National Registry in 2025 Read More »

NMC Clears Path for For-Profit Firms to Establish Medical Colleges

/ Education Community

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has officially revised its regulations to allow for-profit companies to set up medical colleges in India, marking a significant shift from the earlier framework that restricted such institutions to non-profit Section 8 companies. Announcing the change, NMC Chairman Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth said the decision was taken at a recent board meeting and removes the clause that limited eligibility to non-profit entities. The revised policy now enables both non-profit and for-profit organisations to establish medical colleges, particularly under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Speaking at a press briefing at Dr NTR University of Health Sciences in Vijayawada, Sheth said the move is intended to improve the utilisation of resources in medical education by encouraging collaboration between public authorities and private players. He added that PPP-based medical institutions are already functioning effectively in states such as Gujarat. Sheth noted that while the PPP model will be implemented at the discretion of state governments, hospitals operating under such arrangements will remain under state oversight. As a result, patients will continue to receive treatment either free of cost or at subsidised rates. To maintain academic and institutional standards, the NMC has developed its own accreditation framework and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The commission’s broader objective, Sheth said, is to expand access to quality medical education for the general population while aligning with global benchmarks. Highlighting ongoing reforms, he said the NMC is continuously updating its policies to reflect evolving needs in healthcare education. As part of these efforts, clinical research has been made mandatory, with increased emphasis on artificial intelligence, digital healthcare, and emerging medical technologies to future-proof medical training in India. Source: PTI

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Trump Administration Initiates Massive Layoffs at HHS, Ends Collective Bargaining

/ Human Resource Community

In a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Department, up to 10,000 employees are set to be laid off following President Donald Trump’s move to strip workers of collective bargaining rights. The restructuring, announced last week, aims to consolidate federal health agencies and reduce the workforce by nearly a quarter. On Tuesday, employees across HHS received dismissal notices, with long lines forming outside the department’s headquarters as workers awaited confirmation of their employment status. Some gathered in coffee shops after being turned away, learning they had lost their jobs after decades of service. At the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the cuts coincided with the first day of its new director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. Four directors of NIH’s 27 institutes were placed on administrative leave, while entire communications teams were let go. Some senior staffers were offered possible transfers to the Indian Health Service, with limited time to respond. At the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), dozens of employees responsible for regulating drugs and tobacco products were dismissed, including the entire team working on electronic cigarette regulations. The FDA’s tobacco chief was also removed from his position. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which monitors disease outbreaks and public health threats, is set to lose 2,400 employees. Democratic Senator Patty Murray warned that the cuts would weaken the government’s ability to respond to crises, saying, “They may as well be renaming it the Department of Disease.” The layoffs come alongside a broader rollback of federal spending, with HHS pulling back over $11 billion in COVID-19-related funding, leading to additional job losses at state and local health departments. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended the restructuring, calling the agency an inefficient “sprawling bureaucracy” with a $1.7 trillion budget that has “failed to improve the health of Americans.” Meanwhile, Trump’s executive order ending collective bargaining for thousands of federal workers has drawn backlash from Democratic lawmakers, who argue it weakens labor protections and limits government accountability. Representatives Gerald Connolly and Bobby Scott criticized the move, stating that it hands more control to Trump adviser Elon Musk to dismantle public service institutions. Breakdown of Job Cuts: 3,500 positions at the FDA 2,400 positions at the CDC 1,200 positions at the NIH 300 positions at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services The sweeping changes mark one of the most significant federal workforce reductions in recent history, sparking concerns over the future of public health services in the U.S. Source: Hindustan

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CDC Retracts $11.4B in Covid Funds, Sparking Concerns Among Health Departments

/ Health & Wellness Community

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is withdrawing $11.4 billion in Covid-related funding from state and community health departments, NGOs, and international recipients, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed Tuesday. HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon stated, “The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic. We are shifting focus to tackling chronic diseases and making America healthy again.” The funding retraction notices were sent Monday, giving recipients 30 days to reconcile expenditures. The affected grants primarily covered: Covid testing & vaccination Community health workers Health disparity initiatives for minority & rural populations Global Covid projects Wider Impact on Public Health While the federal public health emergency ended in May 2023, concerns remain over long Covid and ongoing infections, with hundreds of deaths still reported weekly. Health officials fear the cuts may undermine broader public health efforts. Kristina Iodice, spokesperson for Colorado’s Department of Public Health, warned the loss of funding could hamper outbreak response, disease tracking, and immunization efforts. Several state health departments confirmed receipt of the withdrawal notice, including Mississippi, Utah, and nine others. Officials in Texas and Florida were hit hardest, with $877 million and $482 million in grants canceled, respectively. HHS Budget Cuts Under New Leadership Under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the department has also canceled funding for: Vaccine hesitancy research LGBTQ+ health initiatives HIV prevention programs The CDC reviewed its Covid-related grants and determined which were no longer necessary, though a full list of rescinded projects has not been made public. As federal health funding undergoes a major shift, state agencies are now scrambling to assess the long-term effects of these sudden budget cuts. Source: NBC

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HIV Cases in Mizoram Surge to 32,287 – Understanding the Crisis

/ Health & Wellness Community

Mizoram is witnessing a concerning surge in HIV cases, with 32,287 individuals testing positive and 5,511 reported deaths as of January 2025. The state now holds the highest HIV prevalence rate in India at 2.73%, far exceeding the national average of 0.2%. State Health Minister Lalrinpuii has urged lawmakers to take immediate action to combat the epidemic. During a meeting of the Mizoram Legislative Forum on AIDS, Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) Project Director Dr. Jane R. Ralte provided an update, revealing that 1,769 new cases were detected between April 2024 and January 2025. According to Dr. Ralte, 67% of infections are attributed to unprotected sexual activity, while 30.44% stem from the use of unsterilized syringes. However, a decline in new infections and HIV-related deaths has been observed due to increased testing and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). To support those affected, the state legislators have pledged Rs 50,000 each from their MLA funds for 2024-25, ensuring continuous ART treatment access through MSACS. Additionally, the Health Ministry has introduced HIV self-testing (HIVST) as a discreet, accessible testing method to combat stigma and improve early detection. HIV primarily spreads through unprotected sexual contact, sharing contaminated needles, blood transfusions, and from mother to child during pregnancy or breastfeeding. High-risk groups include individuals with multiple partners, intravenous drug users, sex workers, and healthcare workers exposed to infected blood. With strengthened policies, awareness programs, and self-testing initiatives, Mizoram aims to curb the HIV crisis and ensure better healthcare access for affected individuals. Source: Business Standard

HIV Cases in Mizoram Surge to 32,287 – Understanding the Crisis Read More »

Arunachal Cabinet Sets Up Administrative Reforms Commission for Enhanced Governance

/ Governance Community
News on Governance

The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, has announced the establishment of an Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) to streamline state governance and tackle administrative challenges. The decision, taken during a cabinet meeting in Tawang, mandates the ARC to undertake a comprehensive review of the state’s administrative framework and propose recommendations for a more efficient, citizen-centric, and accountable governance system. Key initiatives discussed in the meeting include a new transfer and posting policy for nurses across health facilities in Arunachal Pradesh, aimed at ensuring equitable staffing and quality healthcare services. Additionally, the cabinet approved the renaming of the Special Investigation Cell (Vigilance) to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), underscoring the government’s commitment to addressing corruption. The ACB will continue to handle major investigations within the state. Another significant decision is the proposed renaming of Naharlagun Railway Station to Itanagar Railway Station, which has been recommended to the Government of India for consideration. The cabinet also endorsed the amendment of the Arunachal Pradesh Victim Compensation Scheme, enhancing the compensation rates for victims of various crimes. Further administrative advancements include the amendment of the Arunachal Pradesh State Human Rights Commission Service Rules, 2022, and the approval of special grades for various ranks within the police department, including constables, head constables, and ASIs. The cabinet also granted one-time recruitment relaxations for contractual ANM and nursing officers, enabling their absorption on a seniority basis and advancing career growth for healthcare workers. Source: Times of India

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Health Ministry Initiates Recruitment for Technical Resource Centres

/ Human Resource Community

The Union Health Ministry, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is advancing efforts to establish Technical Resource Centres (TRCs) aimed at synthesizing and evaluating evidence to develop and promote evidence-based healthcare policies. These centres will play a pivotal role in formulating clinical guidelines and enhancing the adoption of best practices within the healthcare sector. ICMR has issued a call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) from researchers, faculty, and scientists to join these centres. Each TRC will receive financial support of up to ₹20 lakh per year, with funding initially set for three years and subject to annual performance reviews. The TRCs will conduct systematic reviews and meta-analyses to generate high-quality evidence, utilizing the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach. The centres will also organize training programs and workshops to disseminate best practices and support effective guideline development. Regular monitoring visits, professional development plans, and biannual training programs are integral components of the TRCs’ operations. Manuscripts based on completed evidence tables are expected to be submitted within three months. The ICMR has outlined eligibility criteria for applicants, including regular employment at medical institutes, research centres, universities, or colleges, along with the necessary experience, resources, and preferably access to relevant databases. Applications will be reviewed by an expert committee, with selected participants to be notified via email and the DHR website in September 2024. The evaluation of applications will be based on expertise in evidence synthesis, available infrastructure and resources, publication history, and the extent of collaboration and networking capabilities. Source: The Hindu

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Budget 2024: Healthcare Sector Urges Government to Boost Public Health Spending

/ Health & Wellness Community

The healthcare sector in India is advocating for increased public health spending in the upcoming Budget 2024, urging the government to raise public health expenditure above 2.5 percent of the GDP. The industry is also calling for an Ayushman Bharat-like scheme specifically for the middle class to address healthcare needs more comprehensively. Key Recommendations: Increase Public Health Expenditure: The Healthcare Federation of India (NATHEALTH) has emphasized the need for the government to boost healthcare spending to over 2.5 percent of GDP. This increase is seen as crucial for enhancing infrastructure, addressing demand and supply challenges, and improving overall social insurance. Expand Healthcare Facilities: Abhay Soi, president of NATHEALTH and chairman of Max Healthcare Institute, highlighted the necessity for two billion square feet of advanced healthcare facilities. Expanding healthcare infrastructure in smaller cities and advancing digital healthcare services are also top priorities. Comparison with Other Countries: According to the Economic Survey 2022-23, healthcare expenditure by the Centre and state governments reached 2.1 percent of GDP in FY23. In comparison, OECD data shows that the US had the highest health expenditure to GDP ratio at 16.6 percent in 2022, while India’s was at 2.9 percent. Middle-Class Healthcare Scheme: Industry leaders, including PD Hinduja Hospital CEO Gautam Khanna, suggested implementing a healthcare scheme similar to PM-JAY for the middle class. This would require allocating 2.5-3.5 percent of GDP to healthcare to ensure broader coverage and affordability. Policy Reforms and Innovations: Suneeta Reddy, Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals, emphasized the need for the government to prioritize the healthcare sector to spur growth and productivity. The industry is also advocating for easing compliance burdens, promoting medtech innovation, rationalizing the goods and services tax (GST), and reviewing the health cess on medtech products. As the first Budget of Modi 3.0 approaches, the healthcare sector’s recommendations highlight the critical need for increased investment and policy support to enhance India’s healthcare infrastructure, improve access to quality healthcare, and ensure affordability for all citizens. Boosting public health spending is seen as a vital

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