Ankita Upadhyay is a Special Correspondent (and primary Health reporter) at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She has 12 years of experience and is widely regarded as one of the capital's most dedicated healthcare journalists, focusing on public health policy, institutional accountability, and the impact of environmental crises on human physiology. Professional Background Core Beat: Her reporting centers on Delhi’s major hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak), the state health department, and emerging medical trends. Expertise: She specializes in translating complex medical data into human-centric stories. Her work often highlights the intersection of poverty and healthcare access, and she has been a vocal reporter on women's cardiac health and oncology. Impact Journalism: Ankita’s reports frequently lead to direct government action. For instance, her December 2025 investigative report on medicine shortages at Lok Nayak Hospital prompted the Delhi government to mandate daily stock reporting from all state-run hospitals. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work has been dominated by the health consequences of Delhi's toxic winter air and investigative pieces on hospital infrastructure: 1. The Health Cost of Air Pollution "Inside AIIMS clinic as Delhi air turns severe: ‘Coughing for a month… lung capacity down 50%’" (Dec 13, 2025): A vivid report from the respiratory clinics of AIIMS, detailing the physical toll on patients as the AQI spiked. "‘My life has shrunk to the size of my inhaler’: How Delhi’s pollution is wrecking lives" (Dec 15, 2025): A feature on the psychological and financial trauma faced by residents with chronic lung conditions. "Delhi air pollution is attacking your joints, even before symptoms show up" (Dec 1, 2025): An interview with AIIMS experts explaining the link between pollution and immune system rewiring, specifically regarding rheumatoid arthritis flare-ups. 2. Medical Investigations & Impact "Express Impact: Delhi govt seeks daily report on medicine stock at hospitals" (Dec 21, 2025): Following her report on the lack of basic inhalers and cough syrups at Lok Nayak Hospital, she covered the subsequent administrative crackdown on pharmacy mismanagement. "AIIMS oncologist flags oral cancer risk in women" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on a trend of aggressive tumors in women who ignored minor dental infections, highlighting oral cancer as the third most common cancer in Indian women. "Delhi politician, 46, had 2 heart attacks in a day: What her story reveals about rising cardiac risk in women under 50" (Dec 12, 2025): A case study used to highlight the alarming rise of heart disease in younger Indian women. 3. Hospital Infrastructure & Technology "Finding the missing link: AIIMS portal traces unidentified bodies using DNA data" (Late 2025): Detailing a new digital initiative at...