Extreme Heat and Health System Challenges

Extreme heat events are increasingly pushing India's health system to its limits, with issues ranging from dehydration and heatstroke to exacerbated chronic illnesses. The need for a transition from a siloed, crisis-oriented response to a proactive, preventive approach is emphasized.

Conference Highlights

A national conference on climate and health titled 'India 2047: Building a Climate-Resilient Future' underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations. Key collaborations discussed included:

• Paediatricians working with architects
• Maternal health experts partnering with city engineers
• Academicians collaborating with policymakers

Primary Health-Care System Readiness

India's primary health-care system is not currently climate-ready. Professionals such as ASHA workers can act as heat-safety champions with adequate training and protocols. Their role could include:

• Alerting communities
• Checking on vulnerable patients
• Spreading life-saving tips

Integration of early warning systems with local health networks can prompt rapid community actions.

Integration of Prevention into Chronic Care

People with chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and kidney issues are especially vulnerable to heat. Measures for clinicians during summer include:

• Adjusting medications
• Counseling patients on heat safety
• Monitoring high-risk individuals

Standardized Clinical Protocols

There is a need for clear, standardized clinical protocols to diagnose and manage heat illnesses. Measures include:

• Regular summer drills in hospitals
• Dedicated 'heat corners' in emergency departments
• Pre-stocking of cooling kits

Cross-Sectoral Collaboration

Preventing illness involves reducing exposure and requires coordinated action across sectors, including:

• Urban planners rethinking housing design
• Water departments ensuring reliable supply
• Labour departments enforcing outdoor working hour regulations

Equity and Social Justice

Extreme heat acts as a social injustice multiplier, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations like informal vendors, children in cramped classrooms, and the elderly in poorly ventilated homes.

Preventive and Equity-Rooted Public Health

To prevent severe health impacts, a shift to preventive, equity-rooted public health is essential. This includes:

• Mapping vulnerability socially as well as meteorologically
• Implementing early morning health checks during heat alerts
• Establishing mobile hydration stations in low-income zones

Call to Action

With climate extremes intensifying, India has a moral imperative to embed heat resilience into public health systems. The time to act is now, with an emphasis on equity, science, and local leadership.