Heatwaves are hurting health work and equity

Source: The post Heatwaves are hurting health work and equity has been created, based on the article “Tackle heatwaves with short- and long-term measures” published in “The Hindu” on 21 April 2025. Heatwaves are hurting health work and equity.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- Governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

Context: India experienced its first severe heatwave of 2025 on March 15—20 days earlier than in 2024. Rising temperatures, frequent heatwaves, and worsening heat stress are threatening public health, economic productivity, and social equity. This growing crisis demands urgent, people-focused solutions.

For detailed information on Heatwaves in India read this article here

Rising Heatwaves and Their Impact

1. Frequency and Intensity of Heatwaves: Severe heatwaves are rising in India. The year 2024 was the warmest on record globally. December 2022 was India’s hottest December since 1901. This shows a clear increase in the frequency and severity of heat events over the last two decades.
2. Heat Stress and the Human Body: Heat stress occurs when the external temperature nears the body’s 37°C. The body fails to release internal heat, leading to stress. It can damage organs like the brain, liver, and kidneys, and may result in death.
3. Impact on Agriculture and Labour: High temperatures make farming difficult, reduce harvests, and harm livestock. India, with labour-intensive sectors like agriculture and construction, faces job losses and reduced income due to lower working capacity.
4. Loss of Work and GDP: About 75% of India’s workforce (around 380 million people) is exposed to heat. In 2023, nearly 6% of work hours were lost to heat stress. Economic losses due to heat are estimated at 3–5% of GDP in countries like India.

5.,Energy Strain and Economic Disruption: Rising heat increases electricity demand and causes power cuts. This disrupts industrial production and slows national economic growth.

6. Equity and Social Inequality: The poor, migrants, elderly, women, and informal workers are most affected. Women face extra risk due to indoor cooking, dress codes, and sleeping arrangements. Urban poor suffer more due to poor housing and heat-retaining surroundings.

Evolution and Gaps in Heat Action Plans (HAPs)

1. Global Learnings Ignored Initially: As early as the mid-19th century, scientists observed that urban areas are hotter than rural ones. But formal Heat and Health Action Plans (HHAPs) emerged only between 2003–2008 in Europe, mainly in non-tropical regions.
2. India’s First Step: Ahmedabad launched Asia’s first HAP in 2013. Now, 23 states and 140 cities in India have heat action plans. The National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) also provides advisories.
3. Plan Components: Most HAPs include early alerts, public awareness, health system preparedness, urban greening, and heat data tracking.
4. Key Gaps: Implementation is weak in many areas. Coordination is lacking, and data collection is poor, limiting effectiveness.
5. Way Forward: Indian HAPs should adopt global best practices, include humidity in assessments, use local vulnerability data, and be activated by early March.

Recommendations for Strengthening Heat Responses

1. Update and Localize HAPs: States should revise plans yearly, based on humidity and local risk mapping. Clear roles must be assigned.
2. Improve Data Collection: More precise data is needed to identify at-risk locations and people. This allows for better targeting and saving lives.
3. Use Better Alert Systems: India should adopt systems like the UK’s Heat Health Alert, using both day and night temperatures for issuing timely warnings.
4. Strengthen Infrastructure: Promote cool building materials and better urban design. Provide financial support to informal workersduring heatwaves.
5. Context-Specific Advisories:?“Stay indoors” may not help the urban poor in dense areas. Heat advisories must match local geography and living conditions.
6. People-Centric Innovations: Create summer shelters and promote cool roof policies. Encourage science-backed cooling solutions.
7. Enable Supportive Work Environments: Ensure drinking water, ORS, and flexible work hours. Outdoor work should pause during peak heat.

Conclusion

Heatwaves require a shift from short-term relief to long-term planning. Cities must invest in cost-effective adaptation, better coordination, and adopt a people-first approach. Recognizing heatwaves as an equity issue is essential to reduce the health and economic toll of rising temperatures.

Question for practice:

Examine how rising heatwaves in India are impacting public health, economic productivity, and social equity, and suggest long-term strategies to address these challenges.