24-May-16 Blood donations are usually sluggish in summer in India as people are on vacation and educations institutions that host drives are closed. But the crisis this May, say hospitals, is forcing doctors to put off elective surgeries. [images: Getty Images]

23-May-16 Karnataka may boast of having the highest number of nursing institutes in the country, but its hospitals are facing a shortage of nurses. According to the health and family welfare department, around 24% of nurse posts - 2,118 of the 8,949 sanctioned posts - in government hospitals are vacant. [image: ERproductions Ltd / Getty Images]

19-May-16 A third of the global burden of mental, neurological and substance use disease occurs in India and China – more than all high-income countries combined. Yet most sufferers do not receive the needed treatment. By 2025, 40 mn years of healthy life will be lost to mental illness in China (10% increase from 2013), and 38 mn in India (23% increase). [image: OnMedica]

17-May-16 Maternal and child health outcomes achieved in Afghanistan have been fairly positive in a little over a decade. Unless we find ways to build health systems in fragile and failed states, it will be harder to progress on global goals such as the reduction of maternal and child mortality, and to protect the world from new infectious disease outbreaks. [image: GlobalGiving]

16-May-16 The Indian medical tourism industry is expected to reach USD6 bn by 2018, with the number of arrivals set to double over the next four years. "Hospitals participating in medical tourism are increasing focus on niche segments; hospitals specialising in dental, reproductive and wellness are also forming a sizeable portion,” said Dr Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman of Manipal Health Enterprises. [image: Deccan Herald]