India, Nov. 13 -- As many cities battle rising levels of toxic air, the Centre has issued an updated advisory to all states and Union territories asking them to ensure chest clinics in government health facilities and medical colleges under its National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) to tackle air pollution-related diseases.
During the peak air pollution months (usually from September to March), the clinics are expected to function for a fixed duration of at least two hours daily.
Issuing instructions for immediate action, the Union health ministry has sent 33-page guidelines to the states and Union territories stating that cases of respiratory and cardiac diseases tend to rise due to pollution and therefore, hospit...