An individualised approach to breast cancer screening that assesses patients' risk, rather than annual mammograms, can lower the chance of more advanced cancers, while still safely matching people to the amount of screening they need, according to a study.

The findings, by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), based on a study of 46,000 US women, support shifting the approach to screening from one that is based on age alone to one that starts with comprehensive risk assessment to determine each woman's optimal screening schedule.

Hyderabad-based drugmaker Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) on Saturday refuted claims by Australian health authorities over fake doses of its antirabies vaccine in India.

Earlier this week, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation issued an alert that counterfeit batches of rabies vaccine Abhayrab have been circulating in India since November 2023.

IIL has been manufacturing Abhayrab in India since 2000.

Micro hospitals, which replace fragmented tertiary models with specialist-led coordinated care and reduced wait times, can play a crucial role in the country’s fight against the rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), said experts on Saturday.

NCDs, which include diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and obesity, affect over million in India and are behind 63 per cent of all deaths, as per the WHO data.

The rising burden of NCDs is also affecting the healthcare system.

 Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Friday undertook a review of the progress of Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission to ensure the quality of medicines.

Pharmacovigilance by IPC plays a major role in safeguarding patient health. The body regulates the quality, safety, and efficacy of the India-made medicines for both the domestic and global markets.

Nadda stated that the efforts signal the country's growing scientific self-reliance. The meeting was themed 'advancing towards Viksit Bharat by ensuring pharmaceutical quality and safety'.

From changing the definition to the rise of GLP-1 medications, and the government’s several initiatives, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi's clarion call, obesity became the focus of healthcare in India in 2025.

The anti-obesity drive, especially the generic drugs, will continue to remain a key focus in 2026.

Traditionally, Body Mass Index (BMI) was used to define obesity, but after 15 long years, India revamped its obesity guidelines in 2025 by lowering the threshold for obesity to 25 kg/m² (down from the international 30 kg/m²), with "overweight" defined between 23.0 and 24.9 kg/m².

A newly developed artificial intelligence (AI) model is highly accurate in predicting blood loss in patients undergoing high-volume cosmetic surgery procedures, such as liposuction, according to a study.

While liposuction performed in more than 2.3 million patients per year to remove stubborn fat from the face, abdomen, thighs, arms, or neck is generally safe, excessive blood loss is a potentially serious complication, especially when higher volumes of fat are removed.

Women working on the night shift or frequently flying across time zones, where they experience an irregular sleep schedule, may increase their risk of aggressive breast cancer, according to a study.

The team from the Texas A&M University College of Arts and Sciences explained that circadian disruptions change the structure of mammary glands and weaken the immune system's defenses, all the while pointing toward a new way to counteract these effects.

Long-term exposure to specific particulate matter components, such as PM2.5, including sulphate, ammonium, elemental carbon, and soil dust, can increase the risk of mental health issues like depression, according to a study.

The study, published in the JAMA Network Open, found the risk to be more pronounced in older adults, particularly those with preexisting conditions such as cardiometabolic and neurologic comorbidities.

In a significant breakthrough, US researchers have found in animal studies that Alzheimer's disease can be reverse, challenging previous studies that for over a century considered the neurodegenerative disease to be irreversible.

The new study, published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine and based on diverse preclinical mouse models and human Alzheimer's brains, demonstrated that maintaining proper NAD+ balance can prevent and even reverse the disease.

NAD+ is a central cellular energy molecule and a major driver of Alzheimer's.

A new monoclonal antibody treatment has shown promising results for a rare liver disease called primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

The team from the University of California-Davis, US, tested an anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic monoclonal antibody known as nebokitug and found it to be safe and potentially effective in patients with PSC.

More than six out of 10 people in India are suffering from mouth (buccal mucosa) cancer due to frequent consumption of alcohol, with locally brewed drinks associated with the greatest risk, along with chewing of smokeless tobacco products such as gutkha, khaini, paan, according to a large study published on Wednesday.

The study, authored by a team of researchers from the Center for Cancer Epidemiology, and Homi Bhabha National Institute, in Maharashtra, showed that as little as under 2 g a day of beer was associated with a heightened risk of buccal mucosa cancer, while 9 g a day of alcohol -- equivalent to around one standard drink -- was associated with an approximately 50 per cent increased risk of mouth cancer.

CD4 tests is strongly recommended as the preferred method to identify advanced HIV disease among people living with HIV, said the World Health Organization (WHO).

The new recommendation is part of the 2025 guidelines on advanced HIV disease.

The WHO defines advanced HIV disease in adults, adolescents, and children five years and older, "as a CD4 cell count less than 200 cells/mm3".

A phase 1 randomised clinical trial of a novel Nipah virus vaccine, led by US researchers, may soon pave the way to prevent the deadly infection.

All three doses and regimens of the vaccine named HeV-sG-V demonstrated to be safe and generated an immune response, according to the researchers in the study published in the journal The Lancet.

An international team of researchers led by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has developed a cutting-edge nanoinjection drug delivery platform that has the potential to make breast cancer treatment safer and more effective.

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality among women worldwide.

Conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, often harm non-cancerous tissues due to systemic drug exposure.

Meditation is a scientific tool that can help manage stress and regulate the brain’s emotional responses, said experts at the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), under the Ministry of Ayush.

The experts, celebrating World Meditation Day on Sunday, highlighted the clinical relevance of meditation in today’s competitive world.

“Nearly 60-70 per cent of stress is occupational in nature and stressed the need to align body and mind through techniques prescribed in the Patanjala Yogasutra,” said Prof. (Dr.) Kashinath Samagandi, Director, MDNIY.

 A new study conducted by scientists at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has decoded the specific risk factors for breast cancer among women in India.

Breast Cancer is among the top three cancers amongst women in India. The incidence of breast cancers in the country is expected to rise by about 5.6 per cent annually, translating to an estimated increase of 0.05 million new cases per year.

The team from ICMR’s National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), Bengaluru, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on 31 studies covering a total of 27,925 participants, with 45 per cent being diagnosed with breast cancer.

The Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, known for preventing cervical cancer, can also help safeguard against precancerous lesions of the vulva and vagina in girls and women, according to a study.

The study, published in the journal JAMA Oncology, showed that women who received at least 1 dose of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine had a 37 per cent lower incidence of high-grade vulvovaginal lesions than those unvaccinated.

Chief Health and Medical Officer (CHMO) of Satna district, Dr Manoj Shukla, on Saturday said that multiple teams are investigating the case of six thalassaemic children who tested positive for HIV, but no concrete findings have emerged so far.

Dr Shukla, a senior surgeon who has been issued a show-cause notice by the state administration, told that the matter is complex and will take time to reach definitive conclusions.

“Multiple investigation teams have arrived, and each is conducting inquiries according to its specific mandate. As of now, nothing conclusive has come to light. The investigation will take time as this is a lengthy and complex matter,” he said.

Exposure to air pollution may have serious implications for a child's developing brain and cause damage to language development, memory, and mood regulation, according to a study.

Air pollution causes harmful contaminants, such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone, to circulate in the environment.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on Friday declared 205 drug samples tested by the Central and state drugs regulatory authorities as ‘Not of Standard Quality (NSQ)' in its monthly drug alert for November.

While the Central Drugs Laboratories identified 64 drug samples as NSQ, the State Drugs Testing Laboratories identified 141 drug samples as NSQ.

Researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have uncovered a surprising player in autophagy, or the “self-eating” process that removes damaged parts of cells that can pave the way for developing therapies for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson's, and cancer.

Autophagy is a key biological process where cells clear out damaged and unwanted materials. When a cell fails to clear waste, its health suffers, especially in long-lived neurons. The autophagy pathway, which removes damaged material and defends against infections, is disrupted in diseases like Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), here, is hosting India’s first workshop on advanced Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) to enhance doctors' expertise in device-assisted therapies for Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.

The workshop, to be held from December 19 to 20, is dedicated exclusively to DBS in movement disorders and was endorsed by the International Movement Disorders Society.

DBS is a well-established and highly effective treatment that significantly improves motor symptoms and quality of life in carefully selected patients.

 Afghanistan’s Minister of Public Health, Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, held a meeting with Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda in New Delhi, discussing ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sector.

"The talks focused on boosting health cooperation, sharing expertise between medical professionals, building the capacity of Afghan health workers, and ensuring the supply of quality medicines to Afghanistan. Cancer treatment, medical visas for Afghan patients, and support for health facilities were also discussed," Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health posted on X on Thursday.

Air pollution is no longer just an environmental concern; it is steadily shortening life expectancy, reducing productivity and quality of life, said health experts here on Thursday, even as the national capital has been witnessing deteriorating air quality for over a month.

Visuals from different parts of Delhi and the NCR showed sharply reduced visibility as dense smog engulfed roads, residential areas, and public spaces, affecting daily movement and raising health concerns among residents. Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 356, as per data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

While cheese -- high in saturated fat and sodium -- is known to raise the risk of high cholesterol or blood pressure, a new study has linked it to a lower risk of developing dementia.

The study, published in the journal Neurology, showed that some high-fat dairy products, such as cheddar, Brie, and Gouda, as well as whipping cream, double cream, and clotted cream, may actually lower the risk of dementia. The findings challenge some long-held assumptions about fat and brain health.

 A team of researchers from Bose Institute in Kolkata has developed a peptide therapy that offers a promising, multidisciplinary approach to treating fungal keratitis -- a severe, sight-threatening infection of the cornea -- the clear front part of the eye.

The team, including researchers from the L V Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, designed a 15-residue peptide, named SA-XV, derived from a larger host-defense peptide -- S100A12. This peptide, previously shown to inhibit fungal growth, has been characterised for its antifungal potency and mechanism of action.

 In a bid to curb the rising vision loss cases due to diabetes, India has launched the first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven community screening programme for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR).

The initiative is launched by the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), in collaboration with the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences (RPC), AIIMS, and the eHealth AI Unit of the Health Ministry.

It "marks a significant step towards strengthening early detection of diabetic eye disease and building a real-time national health intelligence framework", said the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

A team of UK researchers has developed a pioneering blood test that could enable doctors to detect and monitor lung cancer in real time, which will help reduce diagnostic delays and improve patient outcomes.

Using the technique Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) microspectroscopy, the team detected a single lung cancer cell in a patient's blood.

The technique combines advanced infrared scanning technology with computer analysis, focusing on the unique chemical fingerprint of cancer cells, said researchers from University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM), Keele University, and Loughborough University.

Researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, have identified a new pathway involving nanoparticles to treat Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), said the Ministry of Science & Technology on Tuesday.

Conventional Alzheimer’s therapies often target only a single pathological feature, such as amyloid aggregation or oxidative stress, yielding limited clinical benefit.

However, the new therapy involves nanoparticles that integrate polyphenol with antioxidant properties found in green tea, a neurotransmitter, and an amino acid.

Afghanistan's Minister of Public Health, Mawlawi Noor Jalal Jalali, arrived in India on Tuesday for his first official visit aimed at holding discussions to enhance bilateral cooperation in the healthcare sector.

Extending a warm welcome to the Afghan Health Minister on his arrival, the Ministry of External Affairs( MEA) took to X, stating, "The visit reflects India's enduring support for Afghanistan's healthcare system, and we look forward to productive discussions."

In a first, leaders from across the world adopted a political declaration to combat noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, high BP, and mental health challenges by 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

NCDs, including obesity and cancers, are the leading causes of death. These chronic conditions claim 18 million lives prematurely each year, while mental health conditions affect over a billion people globally.

Researchers at IIT Delhi on Tuesday announced the development of an ingestible device that can sample bacteria directly from the small intestine, opening a new window into the human gut microbiome.

While not all bacteria are harmful, nearly half of all cells in the human body are microbial. These organisms line our gut and help us digest food, regulate mood, and build immunity.

Yet studying them has remained difficult. Existing tools are invasive, such as endoscopy or ileostomy, or indirect, relying on stool samples that do not truly reflect conditions higher up in the digestive tract.

Health officials in Spain have documented the first-ever case of human-to-human transmission of mpox clade 1b outside endemic regions in Africa.

Mpox is a viral infectious disease that spreads through close contact, causing fever, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rash. It spreads primarily through skin-to-skin contact.

Mpox clade 1b is a highly transmissible strain that emerged during an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2023.

Prediabetic patients, who lower their blood sugar levels and can achieve remission, can effectively reduce the likelihood of serious heart problems by nearly 60 per cent, according to a study.

The research, published in the journal The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, showed that bringing blood glucose back to normal levels -- effectively reversing prediabetes -- cuts the risk of death from heart disease or hospital admission for heart failure.

Novo Nordisk on Friday launched its blockbuster weight-loss drug Ozempic in India, beginning at Rs 8,800 a month or four weeks.

Ozempic -- a once-weekly injectable formulation of semaglutide -- is approved in India for adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise.

The drug is available in three dosage forms -- 0.25mg, 0.5 mg, and 1mg -- in a single-use pre-filled pen called Novofine Needles designed for painless subcutaneous injection, the drug maker said.