On World Hepatitis Day, the government reiterated its commitment to eliminate hepatitis by 2030. National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) completed 8 years, under which more than 6 lakh patients have received free treatment.
New Delhi [भारत]July 28 (ANI): The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Tuesday observed World Hepatitis Day 2026 under the global theme “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down”. This marks the completion of eight years of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP), an official press release said.
This program was launched on World Hepatitis Day 2018 under the National Health Mission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This reflects India’s commitment to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3.
Government’s commitment to a hepatitis-free India
Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers, delivered the keynote address. He reiterated the commitment of the Government of India to a hepatitis-free India and called for intensified efforts by the Government, States and all stakeholders to achieve this goal.
Delivering the keynote address, Anupriya Patel said that “India is completing eight years of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, during which substantial progress has been made in prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.”
He said that “India is one of the few countries to provide free treatment of hepatitis C and management of hepatitis B, while access and affordability of services continue to improve.” He further highlighted that “the cost of drugs has been reduced to less than a dollar, while quality diagnostics are being made increasingly accessible to facilitate early detection and timely treatment.”
The minister said the program has been expanded in a phased manner. Initially, treatment services for simple cases were strengthened at district health facilities, while selected institutions were strengthened to provide referral services for complex cases. Subsequently, screening and treatment services were expanded to the country’s network of over 1.85 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, thereby expanding access to hepatitis services at the primary healthcare level.
Emphasis on preventive measures
Highlighting preventive interventions, Patel said that “hepatitis B vaccine, introduced in 2011 under the universal immunization programme, has achieved more than 92 per cent one-dose coverage.” He emphasized that “although currently about 65 per cent of pregnant women are being screened for hepatitis B, States and Union Territories should work towards 100 per cent screening to ensure timely hepatitis B birth dose to all eligible newborns and administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) within 24 hours to newborns of hepatitis B-positive mothers.”
Appeal to increase public awareness
The minister also stressed the importance of vaccination of healthcare workers to prevent occupational transmission and called for focused interventions among high-risk populations to protect vulnerable groups from chronic liver disease and liver cancer. Describing hepatitis B and hepatitis C as “silent killers”, he underlined the need to create greater public awareness and urged states and union territories to educate communities that testing and treatment services are available at government health facilities.
Reiterating that “health is a shared goal”, Patel said that “the Government of India, state governments and all stakeholders must continue to work together with renewed commitment to achieve the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.” Expressing confidence in the collective efforts of the country, he said that “continued and intensive efforts will help in realizing the vision of a hepatitis-free India.”
On the occasion, Patel also released Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material for dissemination in states and Union Territories, including posters on Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, highlighting the modes of transmission and services available under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP).
NVHCP Achievements and Progress
Addressing the gathering, Union Health Secretary, Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted the significant progress achieved under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme. He said that more than 21 crore beneficiaries have been screened under the programme, while more than 6 lakh patients have received free treatment.
The Union Health Secretary highlighted that “the program has exceeded its target of setting up a treatment center in every district. With the support of states and union territories, there are now 1,153 treatment centers in the country, including more than 70 specialized treatment sites providing advanced care.” He also emphasized that “these achievements have been possible through a whole-of-government, whole-of-ministry and whole-of-society approach.”
Coordination with other programs
Emphasizing on convergence-based implementation of the programme, Srivastava underlined that the National AIDS Control Program helps reach high-risk populations, while the Universal Immunization Program provides hepatitis B birth dose as well as vaccination of health workers. He further highlighted that maternal health programs prevent mother-to-child transmission through prenatal screening of pregnant women and administration of HBIG to newborns of hepatitis B-positive mothers. He informed that as a result of these coordinated efforts, more than 7.64 crore pregnant women have been screened, while 2.24 lakh newborns born to hepatitis B-positive mothers have received HBIG.
Stressing the need for intensified efforts, he called for identification of each infected person and linkage to care and stressed on effective use of the NVHCP Case-Based Management Information System (CPMIS), integrated with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), to strengthen patient tracking, treatment and follow-up, thereby helping prevent onward transmission of the disease.
Speaking on the occasion, Additional Secretary and Mission Director, NHM, Aradhana Patnaik highlighted that the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program focuses on Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, including interventions aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B through antenatal screening and HBIG administration to newborns of infected mothers and ensuring early detection and treatment of Hepatitis C, especially in high-risk groups, including injection drug users. (IDUs). He further said that the program is being implemented through convergence with the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Program and the National AIDS Control Programme, while expanding its convergence towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He also said that the IEC material released during the program will strengthen awareness and outreach efforts in the states and union territories.
Speaking on the occasion, Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Lavneet Gopal Krishna; Joint Secretary, National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP), Nikhil Gajraj; WHO representative in India, Yvon J.-F. Hutin; Deputy Commissioner, NVHCP, Sandhya Kabra; Additional Chief Secretary (Health) and senior officials of the ministry were also present. Principal Secretaries (Health), Mission Directors, Program Officers, experts and other stakeholders of the States and Union Territories also participated virtually in the event. (ANI)
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