Lawmakers in the Lok Sabha have approved reform to Indian abortion law proposed by the Centre, which could expand access to abortion in the country. Parliamentarians in the lower house of the Indian Parliament approved by voice vote the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which seeks to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy […]
Indian Parliament
Surrogacy law: Key changes suggested
The controversy surrounding a commercial surrogacy law could be ameliorated, at least in part. A parliamentary panel has recommended a number of critical alterations to the legislation – including loosening the restrictions on who can be a surrogate mother. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill was introduced last year, in a bid to clamp down on commercial […]
Towards a malaria-free India: Parliamentarians forge strategic alliance to wipe out deadly disease
New Delhi, January 29th, 2020: Parliamentarians from across party lines have joined hands and formed a coalition to support India’s efforts to eliminate malaria by 2030. The group called “Parliamentarians for Malaria Elimination” includes eleven Members of Parliament (MPs) belonging to different states, including many with a high malaria burden. More MPs are expected to join […]
Rajya Sabha MPs approve e-cigarette ban
The Government of India’s ban on e-cigarettes has won the approval of Rajya Sabha MPs, who passed legislation prohibiting the devices earlier this week amidst appeals over their negative effects on public health. The upper house of the Indian Parliament passed the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and […]
MPs give nod to vaping ban
Parliamentarians in the Lok Sabha gave their nod to the Centre’s decision to ban e-cigarettes, even as some lawmakers expressed concerns about continued tobacco use in the country. The Government of India issued an ordinance earlier this year prohibiting electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) from being produced, manufactured, distributed, imported, exported, stored, sold, and advertised […]
India’s cancer burden continues to grow
India’s cancer burden is continuing to increase according to recent data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The news came from minister of state for health Ashwini Choubey, who told the Lok Sabha that the Centre was emphasising its efforts to tackle breast, cervical, and oral cancer which account for 41 percent of […]
Commercial surrogacy bill under Rajya Sabha scrutiny
The controversial commercial surrogacy bill imposing a number of restrictions on the practice is to be deliberated by a select committee of Rajya Sabha MPs. The Government of India introduced the commercial surrogacy bill into the Lok Sabha, imposing a number of restrictions on surrogacy. Under the legislation, only married couples of women aged 23 […]
Cancer infrastructure needs an upgrade
Cancer is one of the leading threats to public health in India. An estimated 2.25 million people live with the disease in the country, with more than 1.15 million new cases registered and an estimated 784,821 deaths recorded last year. Despite this, the country’s cancer infrastructure is sorely lacking – as phrased by a parliamentary […]
DMA gives support to NMC Bill
The Delhi Medical Association (DMA) has offered praise for the controversial National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, in a marked departure from the criticism it has faced from much of India’s medical fraternity. “We are of the opinion that the NMC Act is good for society,” stated president of the DMA Dr Girish Tyagi. “It will […]
Commercial surrogacy ban clears the Lok Sabha
A controversial bill which lead to a commercial surrogacy ban in India cleared the Lok Sabha on Monday. MPs passed the legislation, which Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan called “the need of the hour”, by a voice vote. Vardhan stated it was “unfortunate that the country had emerged as a hub of commercial surrogacy […]