(In the weekly Health Matters newsletter, Zubeda Hamid writes about the Union Budget’s health allocations and mental health focus, the Supreme Court’s menstrual health ruling, and more)
This week, there’s no debating the top news in the health sector, no trying to decide which of our many stories should make it to the head of the list: the Union Budget and the Supreme Court’s landmark judgement on menstrual health have dominated our columns.
For those of you who want a quick overview of what the Budget had offer, health-wise, here’s a brief summary: overall health spending saw only a modest growth — the Health Ministry has been allocated ₹1.05 lakh crore for FY 2026-27, just over 6% more than the previous year and roughly 9% more than the revised estimates. Dr. Preetha Reddy offers an analysis, here. Key takeaways are that mental health and training of allied health professionals (AHPs) took centre stage: a second campus of NIMHANS is to be set up in north India, two new national mental health institutes will be set up in Ranchi and Tezpur, and existing institutions AHPs will be upgraded, alongside new AHP Institutions to established in private and government sectors, with a focus on training for geriatric services. With the Indian Psychiatric Society noting that nearly 60% of mental disorders are diagnosed in individuals below the age of 35 and the Economic Survey highlighting rising digital addiction and screen-related mental health problems, the focus on mental health is a good step.
This apart, customs duty exemptions for cancer drugs, investments in the biopharma sector, a push to scale-up the AYUSH ecosystem and a scheme to support States in establishing five regional medical hubs in partnership with the private sector, are the other major highlights.
Does the Budget, however, reduce out-of-pocket expenses on health, strengthen primary healthcare or tackle medical inflation? The answer, from experts, is a decisive no. For a visual breakdown of what’s on offer for the health sector in the Budget, do watch Bindu Shajan Perappadanin conversation with Kunal Shankar.
But even as spending on public health in India continues to remain abysmal, the week brought in good news from another direction — in a welcome judgement, the Supreme Court declared that the right to menstrual health and access to menstrual hygiene management (MHM) measures in educational institutions is part of the fundamental right to life and dignity, reports Krishnadas Rajagopal. Why is this important? Because despite menstruation being a biological reality for nearly half the population of India, lack of access to period products, lack of safe, clean toilets in schools with running water and the stigma that continues to surround periods results in thousands of girls dropping out of schools every year, negative consequences on the health of girls and young women, ultimately contributing to continued gender inequality. As the apex court put it: the State cannot force a child to choose between dignity and her education. Such a choice is neither just nor equitable. Do also read our edit on the subject.
Rounding off the news for this week are two other items: big tech is facing scrutiny as a case in California, U.S., seeks to establish that Meta, YouTube and TikTok are fueling a youth mental health crisis, even as France voted on a social media ban for children. Ramya Kannan and I discuss this, and more, in our latest episode of The Health Wrap. The second is that January 30 was observed as World Leprosy Day in India, and if you’re thinking that you haven’t heard much about leprosy beyond a mention in school long ago, do read the two fascinating pieces we had: an excerpt from Tamil writer Imayam’s Noiputtru translated by B. Kolappan, and the story of how the discovery of a drug that was actually a chemical compound used in the textile industry changed the course of leprosy treatment, by Dr. C. Aravinda.
For our tailpiece this week, we have Dr. K. Ganapathy writing on how research into space has transformed healthcare here on earth!
Our list of explainers grows by the week; do dip into what piques your interest:
If you’re wondering what plastic pollution does to the body, this study offers a sobering reality check
Carlos Gershenson, writing in The Conversation, explains why AI’s errors may be impossible to eliminate and what that means for its use in health care
Think there’s a safe limit for alcohol? Read Dr. Aditya Girish Borawake’s piece on alcohol, liver cirrhosis and the point of no return to find out
The labour codes that came into force in November 2025, allow for ‘flexible’ working hours. But what does a 12-hour working day do to your body? Dr. Narendra B.S., S. Giriprasad and Dr. Pallavi Chennamaraju explain
Ahead of World Cancer Day, Sanjukta Sharma, a cancer survivor, details how psycho-oncology is changing cancer care by making room for the mind
If you’ve been hearing about the growing measles crisis in the United States, you’re not the only one. Dr. Anil Kumar Sapare tells us why it’s time to take measles seriously again
Your toddler has a cavity? Athira Elssa Johnson speaks to doctors who explain why this is a growing problem
Nabeela Khan traces India’s story of hope in its attempts to eliminate a neglected tropical disease, Kala Azar
Dr. Rajeev M.R. tells parents what they need to know about delayed puberty
Dr. Vinod K. Ramani cautions women about cervical cancer: it’s not just a disease of the old
Rohini Karandikar writes on an important Indian trial that has found that B12 intake during adolescence is linked to long-term health in babies
Our all you need to know series explored scabies this week
And finally, in the series from our e-book, Dr. N. Raja explains how arthritis is diagnosed and treated; Dr. M.S. Seshadri and Dr. Sai Krishna Chaitanya P. decode osteoporosis for the general public; Dr. Nitin Kekre tells us how to prevent recurring UTIs, while Dr. Tushar Yashwant Sonavane and Dr. Aravindan Nair break down thyroid disorders and their treatment.
For many more health stories, head to our health page and subscribe to the health newsletter here.
Published – February 03, 2026 03:01 pm IST