health matters newsletter where health stands as the year begins

On AI in healthcare, tobacco taxation, water safety failures, mental health gaps, key policies, research updates and more

It’s a new year, heralding new beginnings, hopes and aspirations. And on that note, let’s begin with some good news: in line with the growing use of AI in medicine, the Health Ministry has said that an AI-powered tool, the Clinical Decision Support System is set to be deployed at various public and private hospitals. The tool will provide free digital assistance to doctors for faster, evidence-based decision-making, reports Bindu Shajan Perappadan. In a country where serpentine queues at government hospitals entail hours of waiting time, this may spell better outcomes for the future, albeit, if appropriate safeguards are in place, as with all things AI.

Another move that may be of good news for public health but has raised protests in some quarters is the Finance Ministry’s notification of new GST rates for tobacco products. Bidis have been moved to the 18% category from the now-defunct 28% slab. All other tobacco products have been moved to the 40% slab. These new rates will be effective from February 1, 2026, writes T.C.A. Sharad Raghavan. The government has stated that this is in line with global public health guidance. There is no doubt that tobacco is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases, the burden of which India is reeling under.

However, the Federation of All India Farmer Associations has said this move will hurt farmers’ income and exacerbate smuggling in a market already grappling with illicit trade — highlighting the need for reforms that take into account impacts on livelihoods while trying to safeguard public health. In related news and just in case a reminder was needed as to just how bad tobacco is for the body, do read Dr. Shilpa Ellur’s article on how tobacco wreaks havoc on men’s fertility.

While there is always a little lift that good news in the health sector provides, 2025 did not end all that well, and the ramifications are continuing into the new year: the Indore water contamination deaths and illnesses have once again brought to the fore the fact that clean air and clean water continue to remain out of reach for millions in India. Do read Mehul Malpani’s coverage as well as our editorial on this subject. With an official death toll of seven (though residents allege there are more), and 110 in hospital, this is a tragedy that is continuing to unfold and calls for a serious re-look at not just urban water and sanitation systems, but also at our water as a whole: what are we doing to keep it clean, what checks and balances there are in place, and why we cannot enforce clean water regulations.

One quick update from international news: the United States has now ended its longstanding guidance that all children receive vaccines against ​flu and three other diseases, a sweeping change that is next in a line of several such changes that have taken place of late. Public health experts in the country have warned that this latest rollback could lead to preventable hospitalisations and deaths.

On the Indian news front, two developments need highlighting. The first, is a TB report titled ‘India’s Progress in Addressing the Challenges of Tuberculosis’, that has identified India’s rural, tribal and migrant communities as those faced with multiple challenges when fighting tuberculosis. With India battling to eliminate TB, the report is a reminder of where challenges lie, both for patients and frontline workers. The second development is the Health Ministry’s ban on oral formulation of nimesulide above 100mg in immediate release form, citing serious risks to health. Nimesulide is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for its pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, and fever-reducing effects.

Moving on to research on health that has made headlines this week: mental health has taken centre-stage. In worrying but not surprising news, the Indian Psychiatric Society has expressed deep concern over the persistently high mental health treatment gap in India, noting that nearly 80-85% of individuals suffering from psychiatric disorders do not receive timely or appropriate care.

The burden in India is huge; access to care remains dismal and this is a gap that urgently needs closing. Research continues to bear out the importance of this: older adults who are frail and have depression could be at a higher risk of dementia, with the factors combined contributing to 17 per cent of the overall risk, according to a study from China; while another study from Saudi Arabia found that insomnia or anxiety could be linked to fewer number of immune cells, potentially resulting in a less effective immune system. Athira Elssa Johnson, meanwhile, breaks down a study that reveals many mental health conditions share common genetic risks rather than having distinct biological origins, meaning that individuals who carry a genetic risk for one mental health condition may also be biologically vulnerable to other conditions within the same genetic group — underscoring the need for holistic mental and physical health care. 

For our tailpiece this week, we have Meenakshy S.’s on the judgement, prejudice, misunderstandings that trans men face when they access healthcare. Do give it a read!

Our list of explainers starts in fine form this year:

In the all you need to know series, we have R. Sujatha writing on cellulitis

Dr. Usha Humbi explains the connection between sleep and health

Dr. C. Aravinda decodes why tetanus evades eradication

Following the furore over the counterfeit anti-rabies vaccine, we had this explainer

Dr. Rama R., Dr. Parvathy K. and Dr. Mahalakshmi R. Shetty write on the importance of a good diet for good health and why diet matters in oncology

Dr. Priyanka Kuri explains why your skin may need extra protection rather than excessive products

Dr. Santosh Karmarkar and Sneha Sawant emphasise the need for better awareness initiatives regarding folic acid for pregnant women for its role in helping prevent spina bifida

Soma Basu calls for prioritising cleft care as a health issue

Alok Bhattacharya, Rakesh Mishra, Gayatri Saberwal give a comprehensive overview of what hinders Indian pharma companies from making drugs for rare diseases.

And finally, if you’ve always wondered about what those sharp points at your elbows are for, here’s an answer to your question.

Wishing all of our readers a year filled with good health!

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Published – January 06, 2026 03:57 pm IST