Latest news with #PunyaSalilaSrivastava
News18
19 hours ago
- Health
- News18
'One Donor Can Save Eight Lives': Centre Urges Ministries To Promote Organ Donation
Last Updated: August 3 marks Indian Organ Donation Day, where the government is set to launch a yearlong 'Angdaan – Jeevan Sanjeevani Abhiyaan' In a strong push to address India's widening gap between organ demand and availability, the Health Ministry has written to all central government ministries and departments, urging them to actively participate in promoting organ and tissue donation. A letter written by Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said, 'Strengthening of the healthcare systems to facilitate organ donation and transplantation is one of the top priorities of the government." The move comes ahead of Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD) on August 3, and coincides with the launch of a yearlong public awareness campaign titled 'Angdaan – Jeevan Sanjeevani Abhiyaan". The campaign will be led by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Srivastava has called for the ministries to lead the change and urged ministries to organise pledge drives among citizens and staff. '…central government ministries and departments are requested that a drive may be carried out to encourage citizens to register their pledge for organ and tissue donation… and join the pious movement of saving others' lives through organ donation." She added, 'I seek your cooperation in this National endeavour to further the noble cause of organ donation for the sake of humanity." The letter reiterates the transformative power of organ donation. 'One deceased donor after brain stem death can donate 2 kidneys, 2 lungs, liver, heart, intestine and pancreas, thus potentially saving up to 8 lives," it stated. Tissues such as corneas, skin, bones, and heart valves can also be donated—often even after natural or cardiac death, typically within six hours. The momentum around organ donation has been growing, particularly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted its importance during his Mann Ki Baat programme. 'Hon'ble Prime Minister has highlighted the importance of organ donation in his Mann Ki Baat programme, which has given impetus to organ donation in the country," she wrote. Now, through 'Angdaan – Jeevan Sanjeevani Abhiyaan," the government hopes to turn loss into legacy—encouraging more Indians to give the gift of life, even in death. Why This Matters: India's Organ Gap According to NOTTO's latest annual data, India conducted 18,378 organ transplants in 2023, but the deceased donor rate remains just 0.52 per million population (PMP)—far below global standards. Sample this: The country faces an annual requirement of over 175,000 kidney transplants, 50,000 liver transplants, and 2,000 heart transplants, but less than 10 per cent of this demand is currently met through deceased donations. According to the Health Ministry's data, the total number of donors, including deceased donors, saw an increase from 6,916 in 2014 to approximately 16,000 by 2022. In 2022, out of 16,000 donations, nearly 80% were from living donors, which is not ideal. The majority of transplants should come from deceased donors. In 2023, only 1,056 deceased donors were recorded nationwide, though this was the first time India crossed the 1,000 mark. By contrast, countries like Spain and the United States record 30–40 deceased donors per million population, highlighting the urgent need to expand awareness, infrastructure, and participation in India. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Health Matters newsletter: Hey, what's in the samosa?
On the government's attempt to promote moderation in food and curb obesity, latest developments in medical research, keeping the brain healthy, the dark secrets of a pharma major, and more The biggest news this past week was one that appealed directly to our taste buds. To first, shock, and then, to question choices and portions. How much oil, sugar, and transfats are present in your regular evening samosa, pakora, chai biscuit, or jalebi? The hullabaloo started after the Health Ministry asked all government departments to display such information in their cafeterias, lobbies, and meeting rooms, in a bid to highlight the health risks of popular Indian snacks. Here, Bindu Shajan Perappadan reports on the announcement. 'We are proposing a display of Sugar and Oil Boards initiative to promote healthier dietary habits in various settings. These boards serve as visual behavioural nudges in schools, offices, public institutions etc. displaying key information about hidden fats and sugars in everyday foods,' Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said in the letter. The campaign is being rolled out first in Nagpur, where the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will serve as the pilot location for the initiative. The calorie count poster will be pasted beside popular food stalls with clear information about sugar, fat, and transfat content. It will outline long-term health risks from frequent consumption. These warnings are designed to be direct and create awareness. The goal is to promote moderation, not restriction. Apart from the boards, the Health Ministry has also requested that all official stationery -- letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders, etc -- and all publications print health messages as daily reminders to reinforce the fight against obesity. The move comes just weeks after CBSE instructed its over 24,000 affiliated schools across India to establish 'sugar boards', where information is displayed for educating students about the risks of excessive sugar intake. Further, for more details on what this means for all of us, read her explainer here: What is the directive on sugar, salt labelling? On the same subject, The Hindu's edit says the move to curb unhealthy food intake, is More than symbolic. Siddharth Kumar Singh followed this up with a story from Hyderabad, Samosa to get a reality check with government order on sugar and fat boards at offices. Do you know how much oil is required to make 400 samosas in two days? He quotes the vendor of a stall in Hyderabad: 'We use about five litres of oil to make 400 samosas in two days. Once all that oil is soaked up, we start with a fresh batch,' said the vendor. A back of the envelope calculation shows each samosa will have 11.3 gm oil.' However, at the shop there is no mention of nutritional content, sugar, or fat, only the irresistible aroma of deep-fried indulgence. Once you learn this, will you limit your consumption to one triangular fold of potato and masala? The government is hoping you will do so. Staying on the nutrition plank, here. Are you one of those people that get their information on what to eat from social media? Then this story by Nabeela Khan will make essential reading. She tells us how to access accurate nutritional information. Social media thrives on black-and-white thinking. Nutrition science is all about context, dose, and individuality. Genetics, the gut microbiome, lifestyle, stress levels, and cultural background all determine what works for you, she says. Do read the story to learn how to filter nutrition advice on your social media, and pick what is best for you. We, at the health desk, believe in celebrating innovation in health care. Every such innovation has the potential to bring massive change in society, to alleviate pain and suffering, and restore quality of life. In this context, last week provided a bonanza for us. Firstly, let's begin with something very simple, but revolutionary in rethinking what's been happening to women for about 180 years. Researchers redesign vaginal speculum to ease fear and pain. Finally someone thought about replacing the cold, hard, metallic and commonly-used vaginal speculum for essential gynaecological examinations, and almost always associated with pain. Tamara Hoveling and Ariadna Izcara Gual of Delft University, The Netherlands came up with a prototype called the Lilium -- named after the lily flower. Like the more familiar tampon, it has soft plastic and an applicator. 'It's designed with the patient in mind rather than the doctor,' the duo said. Yay to that, from anyone who ever had to undergo a painful gynaec exam. Anirban Mukhopadhyay writes about how Lab-grown cells help restore insulin in people with type 1 diabetes . A small clinical trial, reported in The New England Journal of Medicine in June, tested a therapy called zimislecel: stem cell-derived islet cells infused into the liver. In 12 people with severe, long-standing type 1 diabetes, these cells began producing insulin again, improving blood sugar control and preventing dangerous lows. Excitingly enough, Eight healthy babies born from three people's DNA in Britain free of genetic disease. Researchers report that eight healthy babies were born with the help of an experimental technique that uses DNA from three people to help mothers avoid passing rare diseases to their children. And then, there was eugenics. More understanding of a disease that continues to fox us: Alzheimer's. A recent Study identified four distinct clusters of symptoms that can possibly advance to Alzheimer's including psychiatric and cardiovascular. In our own neck of the woods, IIT Madras last week, unveiled a new 8.5-kg wheelchair that enables independence. The device has a single frame made of aerospace-grade material. It can be fully customised and is available in sizes from 13 inches to 18 inches. So, what is so special about it? It is monoframe, minimalistic design, on which you can slap 120 kg. Imagine being able to assemble and pull apart a wheelchair you can then pack in several parts into your car. Do remember to watch the demo video built into the article. Abhinay Deshpande writes about Gujarat launching India's first tribal genome project to tackle inherited diseases. The Tribal Genome Sequencing Project is an initiative by the government to sequence the genomes of 2,000 people belonging to tribal communities across 17 districts in the State is probably a prototype for other States to follow. V. Geetanath writes of the AIC-CCMB planning trials for Chikungunya vaccine with indigenously developed mRNA technology while C. Maya reports on the Cy-TB test introduced by Kerala government to detect and treat latent tuberculosis infections. Both indicate India's growing prowess in healthcare research and also the need to innovate with local solutions for local issues. The importance of vaccination cannot be understated, and here is a study that establishes that Global vaccine reserves helped avert 5.8 million infections, over 300,000 deaths since 2000. With routine vaccination declining and also impacted by cuts to the US' foreign aid, the study also highlights the ongoing need for an insurance policy against major outbreaks of diseases like cholera, Ebola and measles. The WHO-UNICEF said South Asia had achieved record immunization coverage; with India, Nepal leading progress. However, the situation is still desperate, as despite this progress, the UN says 14 million children did not receive a single vaccine in 2024. It is so important to receive the protection conferred by vaccines, particularly because infectious diseases are still amidst us. Even diseases long believed to be dormant are raising their heads again. For instance, Afshan Yasmeen reported on a study that showed Scrub typhus has now become the most common infectious cause of acute encephalitis syndrome in southern India. Is the mind unique from the brain? The truth is that while these are distinct entities, one a physical processing organ, and the other influenced by subjective experience; there are areas that are distinctly in the intersection between the two. With World Brain Day being observed on July 22, there were quite a few articles pegged at that intersection. Dr. N. Diwakar Goutham writes on Empowering India's youth by supporting their mental health while S. Sabu brought to our attention The mental health of pilots following the Air India crash in Ahmedabad recently. Meanwhile Dr. Boopesh Pugazhendi piece examines how Brain health requires lifelong attention and preventive care, and Sheetal Potdar looks at how Mental fatigue can trick the brain into taking the easy way out. Dr. Karthik Kulanthaivelu looks at How interventional radiology offers scar-free precision treatment for strokes and beyond. Can we ever afford to ignore the country's non communicable diseases burden and the kind of impact it will have on individual and the national health? There's just one answer to that: No. Athira Elssa Johnson reports on this study that is likely to delight many of us: a simple two-minute walk can help both prevent hypertension and detect it early. Eminently more doable than hours at the gym, and we are none the worse for trying. She also quotes experts to say Disabilities arising from diabetes are under-recognised in India , making it a huge area of concern, given the large number of people living with diabetes in the country. Peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy are the most common diabetes-related complications, alongside cardiovascular dysfunction and autonomic nerve damage, and are areas that need to be addressed. Dr. S. Sadhanandham focuses on explaining why dyslipidemia is the next big public health challenge in India, while Latha A. Kumaraswami writes on an expected meeting she had with the Pope and how that became a strike for kidney health. In our explainers series, this past week, we had a bunch across a variety of disciplines. Early diagnosis, simple lifestyle changes can prevent GERD complications: experts Dr. Karthik Madesh Ratnavelu focusses on snoring. He says, it isn't always harmless: sleep apnoea is the epidemic we're not talking about. Following this news: Trump diagnosed with vein condition causing leg swelling , our All You Need to Know About series explains chronic venous insufficiency. Dr. E. Prabhu and Dr. M.S. Senthil Kumar provide a primer on the story of nuclear medicine and its role in treating thyroid diseases. The next in a fine series of explainers on anaesthesia that we have carried in recent weeks, Dr. Subramanyam Mahankali talks about Anaesthesia in the digital age: from mysterious sleep to intelligent, personalised care. Gayatri Saberwal on how Rare diseases have a lot to gain from greater awareness For our tailpiece of the week, we pick this Interview with Gardiner Harris, author of The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson, simply because of the sheer audacity of what Harris does in the book. Page by page and chapter by chapter, he uncovers the dark, and shocking secrets behind how pharma major J&J works. Having grown up in a J&J town, Harris moves on, as a pharma correspondent, to question every known value that the company provided, and thereon, spurred by a personal experience, takes on the burden of unmasking. He provides evidence for willful neglect of side effects, influencing regulatory agencies, and unethical promotion of products. There is also a video embedded, in case you want to listen to the author himself, but you could also pick up the book for yourself. If you have a few extra moments, do take time out to read further: Dr. Dinesh Arab At Tour de France, non-fictional 'supermen' test the limits of human endurance Zubeda Hamid Science Quiz: On zoonotic diseases Ashna Butani Thalassemia patients call for standardised tests to reduce transfusion-transmitted infections ICMR seeks collaboration for malaria vaccine production through tech transfer US may revise hormone replacement therapy warnings For many more health stories, head to our health page and subscribe to the health newsletter here.
The Hindu
20-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
What is the directive on sugar, salt labelling?
The story so far: The Health Ministry has asked all government departments to prominently display the amount of oil and sugar content on popular Indian snacks like samosa, vada paav, kachori, pizza, and burger, stating that this information has to be shared in cafeterias, lobbies, meeting rooms, and even government stationery. What is the proposal? 'We are proposing a display of sugar and oil boards initiative to promote healthier dietary habits in various settings. These boards serve as visual behavioural nudges in schools, offices, public institutions, etc., displaying key information about hidden fats and sugars in everyday foods,' said Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava in a recent letter to all ministries, departments, and autonomous bodies of the Union government. It has also requested that all official stationery-letterheads, envelopes, notepads, folders, etc., and publications print health messages as daily reminders to reinforce the fight against obesity. Why are warning labels being devised? The Health Ministry says these warnings are designed to create awareness. 'The goal is to promote moderation, not restriction,'' it added. According to the information released by the Health Ministry, India is currently facing an unprecedented rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for over 66% of all deaths across the country. With the rapidly changing demographic and epidemiological landscape, the burden of NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancers has become a public health challenge, particularly among individuals over the age of 30, it noted. Pariksha Rao, director of nutrition and medical affairs at The Good Bug, a private venture in the wellness industry, points out that too much sodium, added sugar, refined oils, and sugar-sweetened drinks, often disguised as healthy options, can derail even the best diets. 'These contribute directly to the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and poor metabolic health. At the same time, many people fall short on essential nutrients by not getting enough fibre, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, or fermented foods that support gut health,' she adds. Functional snacks, which promise health benefits, also add to the problem. How is the nutrient value of food calculated? Nutrient values of foods are calculated by conducting laboratory assessment of prepared foods and are represented on a per 100g basis for ease of understanding. It considers total sugar, saturated fat, and salt levels. Where lab-based nutrient analysis is not available/feasible, evaluations are based on aggregating the nutritional values of ingredients available in the Indian Food Composition Tables (IFCT) published by the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Nutrition-Hyderabad (ICMR-NIN). Foods are usually evaluated for their healthiness using validated nutrient profiling models. The recently released ICMR-NIN's Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024, made an attempt to indicate high fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) foods as foods in which calories from total sugar exceed 10% of total energy, calories from added fat/oil exceed 15% of total energy, and salt content is more than 625 mg per 100g of solid food, explains Bharati Kulkarni, director at ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad. She adds that the NIN supports the Centre's initiative to create public consciousness about HFSS foods as a step toward addressing the rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases, especially among children and youth. The HFSS foods are usually processed and are typically low in essential nutrients; excessive consumption of HFSS foods can contribute to various health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. What are the unhealthy snacks? Any snack or food, Indian or Western, homemade or packaged, can be unhealthy if it exceeds the limits of sugar, salt and fat content. 'It would not be pertinent to single out Indian snack foods or Western ones, or even packed foods or the ones we buy on the street. The focus should be on the nutritional content of a food irrespective of its origin. Initiatives of the Health Ministry are a part of a non-punitive, awareness-driven approach to create behavioural nudges and empower consumers to make informed choices. These efforts complement government programmes like Eat Right India of FSSAI, Poshan Abhiyaan, Fit India, National NCDs control programme and school health initiatives,' says Dr. Kulkarni. What are the guidelines on sugar and salt? TheWorld Health Organization recommends a healthy diet throughout life to help prevent all forms of malnutrition (wasting, stunting, underweight, inadequate vitamins or minerals, overweight, obesity), as well as a range of diet-related non-communicable diseases(such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers), and lower the risk of infectious diseases. For adults in India, the recommended daily intake is less than 65g of total fat, less than 25g of added sugar, and less than 5g of salt. The limits have also been set for children in their various phases of development. Ms. Rao advocates for building meals around fibre-rich ingredients, local produce, lean proteins, and healthy fats. 'Cook at home more often, slow down at meals, and reduce reliance on packaged shortcuts. Small, consistent changes make a bigger impact than restrictive trends. What matters most isn't perfection, but a long-term pattern of choosing food that nourishes the body.'
New Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Samosa and jalebi face babus' betrayal
In a nation where the crunch of a samosa and the syrupy swirl of a jalebi are as much a part of life as monsoon rains and cricket fever, the Union health ministry lobbed a culinary grenade into the heart of India's street food culture. A directive, cloaked in the guise of health consciousness, has sparked a firestorm of outrage, memes and defiance, threatening to tarnish the golden glow of our beloved snacks. Last month, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava unleashed a culinary calamity through his letter to all ministries and departments urging them to put up 'oil and sugar boards' in public spaces like cafeterias and lobbies, spotlighting the hidden fats and sugars in snacks like samosas, jalebis, vada pav, kachoris, and even pizzas and burgers. Later on, the ministry denied that the directive was meant to target any specific products. However, the damage was done. What were the compulsions for the government to get into the controversy? The justification given was combating India's rising tide of obesity and non-communicable diseases—with The Lancet forecasting a grim 44.9 crore overweight Indians by 2050. But this vaguely-worded edict, dripping with Western wellness dogma, has misfired spectacularly and ignited a debate that has pitted bureaucratic overreach against cultural pride. Samosas and jalebis aren't just food; they're the heartbeat of Indian celebrations, from Diwali feasts to wedding banquets, and no government memo should dare meddle with that sacred bond. The health ministry's directive, ostensibly a 'behavioural nudge', reeks of a deeper agenda, one that seems to begrudge the global rise of Indian cuisine. Why else single out samosas and jalebis, when the real culprits like ultra-processed chips, colas and cookies lurk in every supermarket aisle?
The Independent
19-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Did India roll out health warnings for popular street foods like samosas and jalebis?
The Indian health ministry has clarified that they had not issued any directive about putting up warning labels on samosas and jalebis, after concerns that the government was cracking down on the beloved street food. The government said it instead directed that cautionary boards be put up in public areas to raise awareness on harmful consumption of processed food. On Monday, Indian media reported that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has identified 14 snack items, including popular Indian street snacks like samosas, pakodas (fritters), vada pav (a spiced potato patty sandwiched in a bread roll), and some varieties of biscuits, which will be accompanied by clear cautionary notices in cafeterias and public venues. However, the following day, the ministry released a clarification stating that their advisory towards food products focused on 'display of boards in various workplaces such as lobbies, canteens, cafeterias, meeting rooms' and was aimed as a 'behavioural nudge to make people aware about hidden fats and excess sugar in all food products and not specifically to any particular food product'. According to The Indian Express, the directive was issued by health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava on 21 June, and stated that a 'display of Sugar and Oil Boards as an initiative to promote healthier dietary habits in various settings' was being proposed. The directive included some samples of food items that included Indian snacks like samosas, kachoris, and vada pavs, as well as burgers, cakes, chocolates, and carbonated drinks as well. The initiative, which has already begun rolling out in cafeterias of state-run facilities like AIIMS Nagpur, comes amid growing concern over India's escalating lifestyle disease burden. Health experts, the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Nutrition have reportedly backed the initiative, stating that it supports a larger effort to combat India's growing epidemic of non‑communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. 'It's the beginning of food labelling becoming as serious as cigarette warnings. Sugar and trans fats are the new tobacco. People deserve to know what they're eating,' cardiologist Dr Amar Amale, head of the Nagpur chapter of the Cardiological Society of India, told the Times of India. Dr Rajiv Kovil, head of diabetology at Zandra Healthcare, told IndiaTimes: 'These high-calorie snacks contribute to obesity, which is a gateway to numerous chronic conditions '. He added that they also lead to excessive calorie intake with minimal nutritional value, as well as worsen digestive problems, raise the risk of fatty liver and insulin resistance, and contribute to cognitive decline, mood disorders, inflammation, hormonal imbalance, and an overall weakened immune system. According to the International Diabetes Federation, over 77 million Indians live with type 2 diabetes, or roughly 9 per cent of adults, with diabetes-related complications accounting for nearly 2 per cent of all deaths annually. A Chennai-based study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that individuals consuming high levels of refined grains, like those used in samosas and jalebis, were nearly eight times more likely to develop metabolic syndrome, which includes risk factors such as high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and abdominal obesity. At the same time, the World Health Organization has flagged trans fats, a common component of Indian street foods, as responsible for over 77,000 cardiovascular deaths each year in India. However, the move has met with significant criticism from nutritionists who have argued that this campaign unfairly targets traditional Indian foods. Celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, who has long championed indigenous food instead of Western alternatives, posted a message on her social media questioning why processed snacks continue to be eaten without warning. 'Tobacco is an independent risk factor. It harms irrespective of environment and lifestyle. There is ample proof of that. Samosa and jalebi ne aap ka kya bigada hai? ( What have samosas and jalebis done to deserve this?) If we are serious about health warnings – colas, chips, cookies etc. must get them first. Regulate and tax big food,' she wrote. 'Ultra-processed food products are the real problem. And there is ample proof of that, too,' Diwekar added in her caption. Milind Deora, MP, in a post on social media platform X noted that the Parliamentary Subordinate Legislation Committee is currently reviewing food regulator FSSAI's plans to tackle India's growing obesity crisis. 'We have unanimously advocated uniform regulations across all food categories, including alcohol, so Indian food isn't unfairly targeted while MNCs continue to market Western junk unchecked'. Former parliamentarian Milind Deora also criticised the government's focus in a post on X, formerly Twitter, urging a level playing field so that 'Indian food isn't unfairly targeted while MNCs continue to market Western junk unchecked'. Reactions from Indians have been mixed; while some see the warnings as overdue, others have questioned whether the signs will truly change eating habits or serve to stigmatise comfort foods. 'Let's also have them on packaged foods, processed foods, pizzas, burgers, cold storage meats, chips, soft drinks, etc?' wrote writer Kiran Manral. 'You don't eat jalebis and samosas for health. You indulge for delight unlike alcohol or cigarettes or pan masala. While former are indulgences (not necessarily healthy), they don't fit into the same category as products that require health warnings,' wrote a person on X.
