BENGALURU: The year 2025 marked a significant phase for Karnataka’s public health sector, shaped by disease control achievements, preventive healthcare initiatives, food safety concerns, and a renewed focus on women and children.
One of the state’s most notable public health achievements was recording zero dengue deaths in 2025, despite thousands of reported cases. The state also saw a nearly 80 per cent decline in dengue cases, compared to 2024. Health officials attributed this success to strengthened surveillance, early testing, timely treatment, and intensified vector-control measures.
However, Covid-19 resurfaced mid-year, with Karnataka reporting over 1,000 cases and a few deaths. The situation was managed without imposing new restrictions, relying instead on mandatory testing, enhanced surveillance, hospital preparedness, mask usage and improved hygiene practices.
Food safety emerged as a major concern, following reports of adulterated ghee being detected during inspections. The KMF Vigilance Wing and Central Crime Branch busted fake Nandini ghee being mixed with non-dairy fats circulated in the market, triggering public concern, given the brand’s trusted and widespread use.
Separately, a viral video debate linking egg consumption to cancer sparked debate, with health experts and officials clarifying that there is no scientific evidence to support such claims, leading to sending egg samples once again as a precautionary measure.
Women’s health received focused attention when Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announced a targeted cervical cancer immunisation drive in Kalyana Karnataka. Under the initiative, all 14-year-old girls in five districts were to be vaccinated free of cost, with the programme set to be conducted annually.
A major decoy operation was conducted by Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh near the joint border, exposing an illegal sex determination network operating across the two states. The operation was led by Karnataka PCPNDT State Nodal Officer Dr Vivek Dorai, in collaboration with Andhra Pradesh PCPNDT State Nodal Officer Dr KVNS Anil Kumar.
Another significant development was the announcement of paid menstrual leave for women aged 18 to 52, granting 12 days of menstrual leave annually. With this move, Karnataka became the first Indian state to introduce a formal and comprehensive policy on paid menstrual leave, marking a major step in recognising menstrual health as a workplace issue.
Preventive healthcare was further strengthened through the statewide expansion of the Gruha Arogya scheme, which provides door-to-door screening for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension among adults above 30 years, with the focus on early detection and community-based healthcare.