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New Delhi: In the wake of early onset of summer and increase in exposure to heat across the northern and central parts of the country, Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava has directed the governments of state and Union territories (UTs) to implement the national advisory or action plan on heat-related illnesses.Srivastava said health facilities must be prepared for availability of adequate quantities of essential medicines, intravenous (IV) fluids, ice packs, oral rehydration solution (ORS) and all necessary equipment.According to the India Metrological Department (IMD), during the upcoming hot weather season (March to May), the country may see above-normal seasonal maximum temperatures in most parts, especially in northern and central India.Also read | IMD warns of ‘double heatwave’ in this part of India from March-May 2025 | See full forecast“From 1st March 2025 onwards, through daily surveillance, patient-level information on clinical diagnosis of heatstroke is being captured on Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) for all the States/UTs,” said Srivastava in a letter to all the state governments.She added that the daily heat alerts generated by IMD are shared by the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with the states.“These alerts include forecasts of heat wave for the next 3-4 days and may be disseminated promptly to all health facilities. State, Districts and City health departments may ensure the implementation of heat-health action plans and support in planning, managing and assessing response to heat along with other responding agencies,” Srivastava said.Also read | Why heatwaves have hit India sooner than expected in 2025“Availability of sufficient drinking water at all health facilities and continued functioning of cooling appliances in critical areas must be ensured. All hospitals to ensure uninterrupted electricity for constant functioning of cooling appliances, installation of solar panels, energy conversation measures to reduce indoor heat through cool/green roof, window shades, etc. In addition to this, rainwater harvesting and recycling plants also be explored for self-sufficiency in water,” Srivastava added.The advisory has been prepared by the NCDC for the state health departments for summer 2025, which has suggested implementation of heat-health action plan, responsibilities of the state and district task force on climate change and human health, reporting under heat-related illness and death surveillance, and dissemination of early warning of heat wave.
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