New Delhi: With air quality in parts of India plummeting to alarming levels, surpassing an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 1,000 in some regions, the Indian Chest Society has sounded the alarm on the growing public health crisis. The pollution surge has triggered a sharp rise in respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, hitting vulnerable groups like children and the elderly the hardest.
In response, the Delhi Government has directed all hospitals to form specialized teams for managing respiratory cases linked to air pollution. Hospitals have also been ordered to monitor and report daily cases of respiratory ailments, including both outpatient and inpatient numbers, flagging any unusual spikes promptly.
Dr. Arun Madan, Professor and Head of the Department, Respiratory Medicine, Hindurao Medical College, expressed deep concern over the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) decision to phase out Respiratory Medicine departments from MBBS colleges. This change, outlined in the UGMSR 2023 Guidelines, he warned, jeopardizes the nation’s ability to deliver advanced respiratory care and train the next generation of specialists.
Pointing out India’s distinction as one of the world’s most polluted nations, with over 99 per cent of its population exposed to unsafe PM2.5 levels, Dr. G.C. Khilnani, Director of Respiratory Medicine at PSRI Hospital, Delhi, and Chairman of the Indian Chest Society (North Zone) emphasized the urgent need for systemic reforms to address the rising healthcare burden, noting that more than half of healthcare consultations in India involve respiratory issues, as reported in The Lancet’s POSEIDON study.
Dr. Manoj Goel, Principal Director and Head of Pulmonary Medicine, Fortis Medical Research Institute, called for policy reforms to combat air pollution. He highlighted measures such as clean technology adoption in industries, renewable energy expansion, efficient urban planning, and advanced waste management practices. Citing WHO estimates, he stated that achieving initial air quality targets could save 300,000 lives annually.
Raising alarms over the removal of respiratory medicine departments in medical colleges, Dr. Rakesh Chawla, Vice President, Indian Chest Society and Chairman of Respiratory Medicine, Saroj Super Speciality Hospital, stressed that this decision undermines care for critical conditions like tuberculosis (TB), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pollution-related illnesses, while also hindering India’s TB elimination goals. Dr. Chawla criticized the lack of transparency in the NMC’s decision-making process, which bypassed parliamentary oversight.
Dr. Aditya Chawla, a consultant at Jaipur Golden Hospital, advocated for reinstating respiratory medicine as a core department in MBBS medical colleges. He also underscored the need for integrated strategies, including clean energy initiatives and sustainable urban planning, to protect public health.
Experts emphasize the urgent need to address India’s dual crisis of worsening air pollution and weakened respiratory healthcare infrastructure. They call for the immediate reinstatement of Respiratory Medicine departments in medical colleges to strengthen care for diseases like tuberculosis and COPD. Strengthening policies to mitigate air pollution, expanding access to quality respiratory care, and fostering public awareness of pollution-related health risks are critical. With the nation grappling with these challenges, experts agree that decisive and coordinated action is essential to safeguard public health.
