Why does the average Indian citizen live 9 years less than someone in China? Why are more people in India dying from poor quality care than from a lack of access to doctors?

In this episode of Doctor vs Internet, host Sonal Mehrotra Kapoor sits down with Richard Horton, Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet, the world’s most influential medical journal. Drawing from the newly released Lancet Commission on a Citizen-Centred Indian Health System, Horton reveals why India has reached a critical "inflection point" where more medicine isn’t the answer. Better medicine is.

In this deep-dive conversation, we cover:

The Quality Crisis: Why "Access" is no longer India’s biggest hurdle. Richard explains why the lack of regulation and "revalidation" for Indian doctors is leading to lack of quality in primary healthcare and a national crisis of care quality. Does India have a healthcare system or just a disease care system.

The 9-Year Gap: A startling comparison between India and China’s life expectancy. Horton argues that health is a political choice and calls for Indians to demand health be at the top of the political agenda.

AI vs. Elon Musk: We address Musk’s claim that AI will replace doctors. Richard’s verdict? Information is not experience. He warns against the unregulated rise of AI in health and why the "human touch" can never be automated.

The Silent Pandemic (AMR): How unregulated pharmacies and "quasi-doctors" are driving Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), turning India into a ground zero for a global superbug crisis.

Air Pollution & Social Despair: Why pollution is a national health emergency that remains ignored but the government and people both. He calls for Indians to demand politicians act and be accountable to them.

Pandemic Lessons & The Next Crisis: From COVID-19 mismanagement and conflict over figures of Covid deaths in India to discussing when is the next pandemic going to happen and could it be "species ending". How new and mutating viruses are the biggest threat to humans and what we need to do to tackle it.

This is essential viewing for anyone interested in public health, medical ethics, wellness, and the future of India.

Produced by Taniya Dutta

Sound mixed by Rohan Bharti

Why is India the diabetes capital of the world? Why do we develop "hidden fat" even when we look thin? In this episode of Doctor Vs Internet, host Sonal Mehrotra Kapoor sits down with Karan Sarin, a certified Metabolic Health Coach, to deconstruct the Indian gene— how it’s more prone to metabolic disorders like diabetes, heart diseases, fatty liver and hypertension. More importantly, can we do anything to fight our genes?

We dive deep into insulin resistance, sugar spikes and carbohydrates to understand how our food habits and lifestyle lead us to diabetes. Karan Sarin elaborates on the blood tests, symptoms and signs of insulin resistance. We also explore if it is possible to reverse diabetes.

This episode rewinds into how British-induced famines rewired the Indian epigenetics, creating a body type that stores fat for survival—a mechanism that is now backfiring in our age of abundance. From the hidden dangers of "carb-loading" in marathon runners, to which roti has the least glycemic index, this podcast is a masterclass in Indian metabolic health.

Key Topics Covered:

-Indian nutrition and diet: which is best for diabetics? Ragi, Khapli, Bajra, Jowar, which have the lowest glycemic index. Which other Indian foods are low glycemic index. The concept of Calories in, Calories out.

-Muscle vs. Fat: Why Indian babies are born with more visceral fat than European babies

-The TOFI Syndrome: Being "Thin Outside, Fat Inside" and why BMI is misleading for Indians

-Metabolic Rocks of Health: Nutrition, Sleep, managing stress and Exercise and how lifestyle can stand in the way of Indian genes

-CGMs: Continuous Glucose monitors: Are they helpful or not

This episode is essential viewing for anyone searching:

Diabetes Prevention, Weight Loss Tips, Indian Genes, CGM glucose monitor device, what is insulin resistance, insulin resistance treatment, Diabetes, Pre-diabetes, Sugar control tips, reverse pre-diabetes India, metabolism boost, metabolic health coach India, Karan Sarin.

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Produced by Taniya Dutta

Sound mixed by Rohan Bharti

Is Deepinder Goyal’s Zomato longevity claim a breakthrough or a scam? We expose the truth behind Bryan Johnson, weight loss drugs, and the "Thin Fat" Indian phenotype with Jitendra Chouksey (JC).

Is the man sending you "Chole Bhature" notifications at 1 AM really trying to save your life? In this explosive episode of Doctor Vs Internet, host Sonal Mehrotra Kapoor sits down with Jitendra Chouksey (JC)—the "BS Detector" of the Indian fitness industry—to dismantle the biggest health narratives of 2026.

JC takes direct aim at the hypocrisy of Zomato’s longevity push, calling their "Temple" wearable a "freaking tracker" and their trademarked "Brain Flow" a pseudometric. We dive deep into why theories like "Gravity Aging" might just be a narrative to distract you from the junk food ecosystem.

In this video, we cover:

The Bryan Johnson Scam: Why JC claims the $100M anti-aging empire is just PR and why "he looks his age."

The Ozempic/GLP-1 Trap: A warning to "Thin Fat" Indians on how weight loss drugs (endorsed by stars like Serena Williams) could destroy 30-40% of your muscle mass.

Indian Nutrition Myths: Why Dal is not a protein source, the truth about Ghee as a fat burner, and why Collagen is just "expensive pee."

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

Longevity & Health Tech:

-The truth behind Deepinder Goyal’s Temple wearable.

-Why VO2 Max and Lean Mass are better markers than "Brain Flow."

-The systemic risks of GLP-1 weight loss drugs in the Indian context.

Nutrition & Prevention:

-How to solve Normal Weight Obesity (Thin Fat).

-Essential health tests: ApoB, Lp(a), Vitamin D, and Lipid Profiles.

-How to identify adulteration in Indian food and supplements.

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Produced by Taniya Dutta 

Sound mixed by Aman Pal

Do people actually start barking when they get rabies? Why do you need to take all doses on time for the rabies vaccine? And is “The dog looked friendly” a medical plan, or a plot twist?

Join me and Dr Kritika Sharma, emergency medicine specialist at Regency Health Hospital, Gorakhpur, as we get practical about animal bites—what to do in the first minutes, what not to do, and why speed saves lives. We walk through real-world first aid (immediate, thorough washing with soap and water; quick medical assessment), then tackle the hard truth: once rabies symptoms appear, outcomes are almost always tragic—yet the disease is preventable with timely post-exposure vaccination.

We bust the “home-remedy” circus—chilli paste, black stones, oils, and positive vibes—and explain how these delays cost precious hours. We also break down when rabies immunoglobulin is crucial, how it’s infiltrated in and around high-risk wounds, and why completing the vaccine schedule matters even if the bite looks small. Clear steps, no fluff, and answers to the questions you’re too scared to Google.

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Produced by Taniya Dutta

Sound Mixed by Aman Pal

How do we respond to “When are you having kids?” What happens when birth control stops being 'her problem' and starts being a two-person plan? And is Is family planning only about how to avoid having babies?

Join me and Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India, as we flip the script—beginning at the pharmacy counter. We talk awkward stares, poor privacy, and why something as simple as buying condoms still feels complicated. From there, we go straight to the 'snip' myths: no, vasectomy doesn’t kill desire or manhood—and yes, men deserve real counselling, not rumours. Muttreja makes the case for training counsellors to talk to men, building couple check-ins that feel supportive (not clinical), and sharing the mental load—who buys, who books, who follows up.

Even in 2025, the hard truth remains that India’s birth control mix is still dominated by permanent female sterilisation: invasive, pushed on women, and too often framed as the only path. But if you’ve ever wondered what equitable contraception could look like in India and why the male role makes a significant difference to it, this episode is your guide: practical, stigma-free, and centred on consent. Above all, we end where it matters most—free, informed choice about the family you wish to have, or not.

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Produced by Taniya Dutta

Who actually needs antidepressants—and how do psychiatrists decide, beyond “just feeling sad”? Can therapy and medication work better together than either alone—and what myths about side-effects should we retire?

Join me and Dr. Pretty Duggar Gupta, a psychiatrist from Aster Whitefield Hospital in Bengaluru, as we unpack depression without the fluff. We move past the ‘just think positive’ advice and explain who may need medication and how psychiatrists decide. We discuss side effects, timelines and why therapy with medication often works best. We also look at how depression affects your brain and your gut and what that means for daily life. This is a practical, science-backed episode that aims to leave you hopeful.

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Produced by Taniya Dutta

Sound Mix by Rohan Bharti

Can a hook and yarn interrupt doomscrolling? Is crochet the cheapest therapy you can buy today? And what sort of love language is 'I made you mittens'?

Join me and Kanchan Vaidya, the founder of The Original Knit, as we explore how counting stitches anchors attention, eases anxiety, and builds gentle focus. We chart crochet’s rise across India—from living-room circles to board rooms—and why a simple hook and yarn feel like modern mindfulness.

Plus, how handmade gifts deepen bonds with others and help you reconnect with yourself. A cosy, practical guide to crafting calm.

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Produced by Taniya Dutta

Sound Mix by Rohan Bharti

What happens to your body before menopause? Is fearing everything you use to be a potential hormone disruptor worth the stress? And what on earth is perimenopause, anyway?

Join me and Dr Anita Gupta, gynecologist at Fortis La Femme in Delhi, in a candid and eye-opening conversation that every woman should hear. This is your chance to learn from a qualified expert about what perimenopause really is and how to move through this phase with more ease.

Dr Gupta explains what happens to estrogen, why it matters for our long-term health, and how stress fits into the picture. This episode is about understanding your body, asking the right questions, and feeling confident as you step into this transition. And yes—we even share how to say goodbye to estrogen safely (without the drama!).

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Produced by Taniya Dutta

Sound Mix by Aman Pal

Is heart failure the same as death? Are the drugs available today finally the breakthrough that our hearts have been waiting for? And when does medicine go from being a last resort to the comforting crutch that allows us to take health for granted? Join me and Dr. Rajeev Rathi, Principal Director, Head – Transradial Interventional Programme, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi, as we explore how heart failure treatment has transformed over the past decade.

This episode also breaks down what heart failure really is, its common causes, and a few surprising triggers you might not expect. Along the way, Dr. Rathi shares personal anecdotes from his life as a cardiologist, giving a rare inside view of medical advancements shaping better heart health today.

Produced by Taniya Dutta

Sound Mix by Rohan Bharti

Are biohackers creating superhumans or just really expensive guinea pigs? Can eating less hours really rewrite your health? And will there ever be a biohack to deal with parking rage?

Tune in to hear biohacker and founder of Vieroots, Sajeev Nair, break down why the future of wellbeing lies in our genes and personalised biohacks. From nutrition to longevity, he explains how science-driven approaches can truly transform health. Forget fads, influencers, and random trends—real biohacking is coded in your DNA, not your feed.

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