A mother covers her child to protect it from heat in Vellore on March 27, 2025.
| Photo Credit: C. Venkatachalapathy
The Central Government on Thursday (March 27, 2025) directed States to review their preparedness of health facilities for the management of heatstroke cases and heat-related illnesses.
The Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava in her letter noted that with the onset of summer, an increase in the exposure to heat, including extreme conditions may occur.
She added that some places in the country have begun witnessing high temperatures and that health facilities need to increase their resilience to heat by arranging uninterrupted electricity for the constant functioning of cooling appliances, installation of solar panels (wherever feasible), energy conservation measures and measures to reduce indoor heat through cool/green roofs (NDMA guidelines may be referred), window shades, shade outside etc.
Also, health facility preparedness must be reviewed for the availability of adequate quantities of essential medicines, intravenous fluids, ice packs, ORS, and all necessary equipment to provide active, emergency cooling, the Ministry noted.
“Rainwater harvesting and recycling plants may also be explored for self-sufficiency in water,” she said.
The Ministry said that public health and clinical guidelines on ‘Heat and Health’ are available on the website of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
“States should disseminate these guidance documents to all districts for effective preparedness of health departments and health facilities to prevent, manage, and monitor the health impact of extreme heat,”’ said the Secretary.
From March 1 onwards, through daily surveillance, patient-level information on clinical diagnosis of heatstroke is being captured on Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) for all states and Union Territories.
The Ministry added that daily heat alerts generated by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and shared by NCDC with states and these alerts include forecasts of heat wave for the next three-four days may be disseminated promptly to all health facilities.
“State, district, and city health departments may ensure the implementation of heat-health action plans and support in planning and managing response to heat along with other responding agencies,” the Health Secretary said.
The Ministry has also urged health departments of states to continue efforts for sensitisation and capacity building of medical officers, health staff, and grass-root level workers on heat illness.
“Early recognition of symptom and management is key,’” said the Ministry.
Published – March 27, 2025 04:29 pm IST