A National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme aimed at eliminating the deadly condition by 2030 was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on July 28 in collaboration with the World Health Organisation.
 

The programme, launched on World Hepatitis Day, aims to combat viral hepatitis and reduce the mortality and morbidity associated  with it, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said. Terming it a historic day, he said the programme has been developed in association with all stakeholders who have worked at the grass-root level, and launched in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), 2030.

"With this initiative, the government is strongly committed to work towards the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030," Nadda said. He also released the Operational Guidelines for National Viral Hepatitis Control Program, National Laboratory Guidelines for Viral Hepatitis Testing and National Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Viral Hepatitis.

Addressing the participants, Nadda said under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ministry is aggressively addressing the preventable diseases. "Programmes are now designed at the ground level and all stakeholders are taken into consideration. We are now making sure that the last person gets the benefit out of it," he said.

The health minister said his ministry has already launched a campaign to end tuberculosis (TB) by 2025, five years ahead of the global target.  He said the government now has more than 1,100 Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) machines for rapid diagnosis of TB, and provides daily regimen with fixed dose combinations.

He added that the programme has also initiated active case findings to screen more TB patients. Nadda stated that the government has also launched the 'Test and Treat Policy for HIV' wherein as soon as a person is tested and found to be positive, he will be provided with antiretroviral therapy (ART).

The government has also launched Rotavirus vaccine, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), Measles-Rubella (MR), pneumonia vaccine, the Union minister said, adding that one thing remaining was Hepatitis and with the latest launch, free drugs and diagnostics will be provided for hepatitis B and C.

"This initiative will provide laboratory testing and management of viral hepatitis with a de-centralised approach," Nadda said. According to the SDG, AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases should be eliminated by 2030. Viral hepatitis was included as a focus area in the health related goal Goal 3.3 with world leaders pledging to fight and eliminate it by 2030.

Union Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel said under the programme, a national level framework has been developed which would show results at the ground level. A postal stamp was also launched on the occasion to sensitise people about the disease. Operational guidelines for hepatitis, including diagnosis and management guidelines for clinicians and national laboratory guidelines, were also launched.

Among other provisions under the programme, pregnant women will be provided free screening at diagnostic centres. S Venkatesh, DGHS, said approximately 4 crore Indians suffer from chronic hepatitis that accounts for 11 per cent of the total cases in the world.