New Delhi | Special Correspondent: Arun Sharma

India’s worsening air pollution crisis is no longer just an environmental concern—it has emerged as one of the country’s gravest public health challenges. A stark indicator of this reality is the record surge in sales of respiratory medicines, which touched ₹1,950 crore in December, the highest monthly figure ever recorded. Rather than signaling progress, this surge is being seen as a warning bell for deteriorating health and toxic air.


Rising Drug Sales: What Do They Reveal?
According to health experts, the sustained rise in medicine consumption points to a worrying trend:
Asthma, allergies, cough and breathing disorders are no longer seasonal, but becoming chronic conditions
Children, the elderly and working-age adults are equally vulnerable to polluted air
An increasing number of people are being forced to live a medicine-dependent life, rather than receiving preventive care


Medicines Offer Relief, Not a Cure
Experts underline that respiratory drugs:
Provide quick symptomatic relief
Fail to address the root cause of the illness
When used over long periods, may weaken the body’s natural immunity
The growing dependence on medication highlights a deeper truth: lack of clean air has turned into a national health emergency.


Self-Medication Deepens the Risk
Health specialists caution that:
Consuming medicines without proper diagnosis can fuel drug resistance
Excessive use of steroids and cough syrups may cause long-term health damage
Continuous medication in children can impair natural lung development
Environment and Health: An Inseparable Link
Experts stress that environmental health and human health are deeply intertwined:
Toxic air directly damages the lungs
Rising pollution increases pressure on hospitals and the pharmaceutical market
A clean environment remains the most effective form of “natural medicine”


Clean Air Is the Only Real Cure
Health and environmental experts are unanimous that:
Masks and medicines offer only temporary protection
Clean air and a healthy environment are the only sustainable solutions
Expanding green cover, adopting clean energy, strengthening public transport and enforcing strict environmental regulations are the need of the hour


If air pollution is not brought under effective control, the coming years may not be marked by record drug sales—but by escalating disease burden and a sharp decline in quality of life.
Healthy citizens are possible only when the air is clean and the environment is safe.