In the review meeting, it was stated by the experts that the number of cases being reported with breathing troubles and respiratory diseases are varying each day. The recent increase in air pollution level in Delhi NCR and in the surrounding areas has become a cause of concern.According to health experts, higher air pollution level may result in increase in the burden of disease from stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and both chronic and acute respiratory disease, including asthma. In the short run, higher air pollution level may result in increase in severity of symptoms of respiratory diseases, the experts opined.
Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has been monitoring the situation arising out of increase in air pollution level in Delhi NCR continuously. A health advisory has also been issued for the citizens. A meeting was chaired by Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Additional Secretaryon 9th November with the participation of Central Government Hospitals i.e. Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital, LHMC and associated Hospitals and AIIMS, New Delhi. Representatives of National Center for Disease Control and Mininstry of Environment Forest & Climate Change also participated in this meeting. He reviewed the situation of impact on health arising due to increased air pollution level in Delhi NCR region and issuednecessary instructions.