English-language national news, explainers and fact checks.
Private hospitals in Haryana will halt Ayushman Bharat services for 24 hours on September 1 over nearly Rs 1,200 crore in unpaid claims, the IMA Haryana has said.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in eight states on August 31, with active monsoon conditions expected to continue into the first week of September.
India’s health ministry has confirmed two Nipah virus cases in West Bengal since December and says 196 identified contacts have been quarantined and tested, all negative so far. The government has called wider case-count claims inaccurate and says surveillance and containment steps remain active.
Indian authorities say a Nipah virus outbreak linked to two confirmed cases in West Bengal has been contained. The Health Ministry said contacts were traced, quarantined and tested, while monitoring continues as other Asian countries tighten screening for travellers arriving from India.
After Nipah virus infections were detected among healthcare workers in Barasat, West Bengal rolled out containment steps including isolation, advisories to hospitals and stepped-up surveillance. Officials urged vigilance without panic, while medical experts noted the virus’s high fatality risk and the importance of infection control. Samples and confirmations were handled through coordinated lab networks, with response teams supporting state-level containment.
Schools across Punjab are closed on 27 January following Republic Day celebrations, according to a state directive. The announcement affects government, aided and private recognised institutions, giving students and staff a day off after the statewide events and ceremonies.
Confirmed Nipah virus cases in West Bengal have led to heightened monitoring and quarantine of close contacts, with travel screening measures being reinforced across some airports and border points in the region.
West Bengal is dealing with a Nipah virus cluster linked to Barasat in North 24 Parganas, with five cases reported within a week. Two infected healthcare workers remain in ICU care, three additional cases were admitted to an infectious diseases hospital in Beleghata, and authorities have sent around 100 people into home quarantine as contact tracing continues.
A report says West Bengal has confirmed Nipah virus cases, with close contacts quarantined and travel screening measures being reinforced at airports and border points to limit spread.
A new research paper examining decades of Indian data argues for sharper increases in public healthcare spending, warning that rising costs and uneven access are deepening inequality. The study highlights how India’s heavy dependence on out-of-pocket payments exposes poorer and rural households to financial distress and delayed treatment.
An academic study flagged rising medical costs and unequal access to treatment, urging India to increase public healthcare expenditure as the Union Budget 2026-27 approaches. The research analysed long-run drivers of healthcare spending and out-of-pocket payments and argued that higher public investment is needed to make care more equitable and affordable.
An academic study released ahead of the Union Budget 2026-27 calls for a major increase in public healthcare expenditure, warning that medical costs and unequal access are widening gaps. The push adds to a growing chorus that wants stronger public systems, preventive care and better funding to reduce out-of-pocket burden.