From the silent spread of drug-resistant "superbugs" to the discovery of uranium in breast milk in Bihar, the year forced India to confront the high cost of its "regulatory gaps".
Published Jan 01, 2026 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Jan 01, 2026 | 7:00 AM
Doctor. (Representative image)
For Indian healthcare, 2025 was a year of jarring duality. On one side, it saw the arrival of cutting-edge medical innovations accessible to the masses. On the other, there was a major breakdown in even the most basic safety standards.
After years of criticism, the Union government finally eased the burden of GST on the common man. Yet new data showed that most Indians were just one hospitalisation away from financial ruin.
Even as weight-loss drugs became available in the domestic market at record-low prices, contaminants in cough syrups led to the deaths of at least 17 children, bringing international shame.
From the silent spread of drug-resistant “superbugs” in 83 percent of patients to the discovery of uranium in breast milk in Bihar, 2025 was a year that forced India to confront the high cost of its “regulatory gaps”.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) flagged a critical “regulatory gap” in India’s drug safety system after confirming that contaminated cough syrups containing deadly levels of diethylene glycol (DEG) claimed the lives of 17 children under the age of five.
The CDSCO confirmed DEG contamination, up to 500 times the permissible limit, in three cough syrup brands following deaths in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The WHO warned of a “potential risk of contaminated products being exported to other countries”.
Australian authorities warned of counterfeit Abhayrab rabies vaccines circulating since November 2023, urging travellers to replace invalid doses. Hyderabad-based Indian Immunologicals Limited rejected the advisory as “outdated and over-cautious”, insisting that only one batch was affected in January and was no longer in circulation, leaving patients caught between conflicting guidance.
The Union Health Ministry restricted fixed-dose combinations of chlorpheniramine maleate and phenylephrine hydrochloride for children below four years, citing safety concerns. Manufacturers were directed to display warnings on labels, with the Subject Expert Committee recommending that safer alternatives be made available.
Following an eight-year campaign by Hyderabad paediatricians, the FSSAI barred the use of “ORS” in commercial beverage names on 15 October, stipulating that only genuine WHO-recommended Oral Rehydration Solution products may carry the term. On 19 November, the FSSAI issued a fresh order directing the immediate removal of all fruit-based beverages, energy drinks and electrolyte drinks falsely branded with “ORS” from retail and online channels.
The GST Council on 3 September approved the complete elimination of GST on individual health and life insurance policies.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that all individual policies, including term life, ULIP, endowment and family floater policies, would be tax-free, representing savings of up to 15 percent. A ₹50,000 family health policy that previously cost ₹59,000 would now cost only the base premium.
It should also be noted that despite operating the world’s largest public insurance programme, AB-PMJAY, only 29.8 percent of women and 33.3 percent of men aged 15 to 49 had health insurance, according to a Lancet study. Cultural barriers, informal employment and a lack of trust in formal financial systems hindered adoption. Middle-income populations remained particularly vulnerable despite schemes such as AB-PMJAY.
A BMC Health Services Research study revealed that over half, 51 percent, of patients with multimorbidity faced significant financial burdens at private hospitals. The research analysed 26,905 patients, showing that low- and middle-income families were one hospital admission away from financial ruin when dealing with multiple chronic conditions.
The National Medical Commission ordered all medical colleges to form sub-committees to monitor prescription practices and enforce legible handwriting, following a High Court directive linking clear prescriptions to the right to health. The move aimed to curb medication errors and address negligence driven by workload and clinic pharmacy nexuses.
To curb biometric attendance fraud, the NMC mandated face-based Aadhaar authentication for faculty attendance in medical colleges from 1 May. The shift replaced fingerprint systems that were vulnerable to manipulation through fake fingerprints and proxy attendance. Colleges were required to geofence attendance zones and appoint nodal officers.
The Union Health Ministry clarified that dentists with OMFS qualifications may perform aesthetic and limited hair restoration procedures, but only within the cranio maxillofacial region. The clarification sought to resolve disputes between dental and medical regulators, balancing the DCI’s expanded training framework with NMC patient safety concerns.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health accused the CDSCO of functioning as a “license raj”, actively stalling growth in the medical device industry through slow and opaque licensing processes. The report warned that excessive centralisation led to arbitrary decision-making, driving manufacturers to Vietnam and Malaysia. It recommended establishing an independent Industry Advisory Board.
Following a child’s death from H5N1 in Andhra Pradesh, bird flu was detected in non-poultry species, including tigers, leopards, jungle cats and pet cats, across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Goa. A high-level meeting of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying on 4 April focused on the growing zoonotic threat and urgent containment measures.
The first week of the year was marked by concerns over a new virus called hmpv. However, DGHS chief Dr Atul Goel clarified that the human metapneumovirus outbreak in China posed no immediate concern for India. Data showed no spike in respiratory illness, with an analysis of December revealing no increase in outbreaks. He advised normal precautions while confirming that hospitals were well prepared with supplies and beds.
A study by AIG Hospitals published in The Lancet revealed that 83 percent of Indian ERCP patients already carried multidrug-resistant bacteria, the highest globally, compared with 31 percent in Italy, 20 percent in the US and 10 percent in the Netherlands. Over-the-counter antibiotic use, incomplete treatment courses and self-medication fuelled a community-level superbug crisis, with treatment costs ranging from ₹70,000 to ₹5 lakh.
An ICMR study revealed Kerala’s low hepatitis A seroprevalence at 44.8 percent, compared with intermediate rates across south India ranging from 74.8 percent to 83.1 percent. Improved sanitation reduced early exposure, increasing adult susceptibility to severe infections. Studies showed hepatitis A accounted for between 21.4 percent and 65.9 percent of acute liver failure cases in major Indian cities.
The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety concluded that “no causal link exists between vaccines and autism spectrum disorders” after examining 31 primary research studies published between January 2010 and August 2025. The analysis reviewed thiomersal-containing vaccines and vaccines in general, confirming the absence of causal links with ASD.
Novo Nordisk launched Wegovy on 24 June at ₹17,345 a month for lower doses, three months after Eli Lilly began marketing Mounjaro at ₹3,500 for 2.5 mg and ₹4,375 for 5 mg vials. Novo Nordisk also introduced Ozempic on 12 December at ₹2,200 a week, targeting India’s 89.8 million adults with diabetes, the world’s second-highest burden.
Childhood obesity rose by 126 percent over 15 years, from 1.5 percent in 2005–06 to 3.4 percent in 2019–21, according to NFHS-5. A white paper by the Foundation for People-centric Health Systems revealed that adult obesity nearly doubled, with economic costs reaching $28.9 billion in 2019. Contributing factors included urbanisation, sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets.
After 15 years, experts introduced a two-stage classification system, eliminating the term “overweight” and focusing on abdominal fat distribution, particularly relevant for Asian Indians. The revised guidelines, published in Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome, were developed by experts from N-DOC, Fortis C-DOC Hospital and AIIMS.
The American Heart Association declared that “alcohol is not a heart-healthy lifestyle choice”, warning that even moderate consumption may not be heart healthy. Modern techniques showed no cardiovascular benefit and possible harm, with binge drinking especially harmful, even if occasional. The statement challenged earlier beliefs about red wine’s cardiovascular benefits.
ICMR-NIE reported that urban children consumed up to 9.2 grams of salt daily, nearly double the WHO’s 5 gram limit, while rural children averaged 5.6 grams. The Ministry of Women and Child Development directed states to reduce added salt and sugar in Anganwadis and Mid-Day Meal Schemes, with 6 percent of children under five already overweight or obese.
An SBI report highlighted concerning shifts, showing a decline of over 5 percent in cereal and pulse consumption, particularly in rural areas. While spending on beverages and processed foods rose by 1.94 percent in rural areas and 2.11 percent in urban areas, vegetable consumption fell. The shift towards calorie-dense, less nutritious foods raised concerns over rising obesity, diabetes and lifestyle diseases.
The ICMR-INDIAB study analysing 18,000 adults revealed that Kerala recorded the nation’s lowest protein intake at 10.5 percent of total energy, below the recommended 15 to 20 percent. Despite a 590 kilometre coastline, Kerala’s omega-3 intake was just 0.1 percent, with an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 74:1, far exceeding the recommended 4:1 ratio.
A study showed that children in climate-vulnerable districts were 1.25 times more likely to be underweight and 1.15 times more likely to be stunted, with higher rates of wasting. Women were 1.38 times more likely to have non-institutional deliveries. One in three children was underweight, while one in seven women delivered outside hospitals.
Every breast milk sample tested from 40 mothers across six districts in Bihar contained uranium, directly linked to groundwater from local handpumps. Most infants crossed the chemical exposure safety threshold, though scientists emphasised that breast milk carried far lower uranium levels than formula prepared using contaminated water.
Plum’s Employee Health Report 2025 revealed that one in five employees sought mental health support, with nearly 20 percent considering quitting due to burnout. Chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension were affecting professionals before the age of 40. Mental health bookings accounted for 20 percent of telehealth consultations, with anxiety dominating and 80 percent involving self-utilisation.
The Advertising Standards Council of India flagged 233 advertisements to the Ministry of AYUSH for violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act, 1954. Many falsely claimed to cure cancer and sexual weakness. Healthcare emerged as one of the most non-compliant sectors, with 370 advertisements investigated, of which 56 percent were found to be misleading due to a lack of honest representations.
Men undergoing cataract surgeries spent 10 percent more than women, linked to preferences for costlier intraocular lenses. A Lancet study analysing data from Aravind Eye Hospital between 2012 and 2023 showed this disparity despite a higher prevalence of cataracts among women, who were 35 percent more likely to develop the condition.
The UNFPA State of World Population 2025 report revealed that more than one in three Indian families, or 38 percent, cited financial constraints as the primary reason for having fewer children than desired. India’s total fertility rate fell to 1.9 births per woman, below the replacement level of 2.1, compared with six children per woman in 1960.
India recorded 47,320 gynecomastia surgeries in 2024, a rise of 10.8 percent from 42,719 in 2023, according to ISAPS data. The procedure accounted for seven percent of all surgical procedures, becoming the fifth most common. The condition affected men across age groups, with exercise and diet unable to address it.
An MIT study tracking 54 participants revealed that heavy reliance on AI tools such as ChatGPT created what researchers described as “cognitive debt”, a condition in which mental capabilities atrophy from lack of use. Participants using AI tools showed markedly different neural patterns, with researchers noting an inability of the brain to quote its own writing after repeated AI-assisted tasks.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health raised alarm over long-standing vacancies in scientific positions since 2017 and the exodus of top researchers to foreign institutions. The panel criticised the reliance on contractual hiring, arguing that the absence of permanent recruitment discouraged talented researchers from committing to long-term projects.
A study published in the Indian Journal of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery, analysing NIRF 2024 data, showed that medical colleges performed well in Teaching, Learning and Resources but recorded the lowest scores in Research and Professional Practice. The reliance on publication quantity rather than quality skewed rankings, threatening India’s global healthcare leadership aspirations.
