Union Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey on February 24 launched the national action plan for viral hepatitis.

There are estimated 4 crore patients of Hepatitis B and 0.6-1.2 crore patients of Hepatitis C in India, as per the health ministry data. "The action plan takes forward the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program launched by the Union Health Minister in July 2018. The aim is to eliminate hepatitis by 2030," Choubey said.

The budget outlay for health in India has increased over the years, and we are progressing towards taking it to 2.5 per cent of GDP, the minister said. "We aim to establish 1.5 lakh Health & Wellness Centres by 2022, out of which 10,000 are already operational; by March 2019 the number will reach 15,000. These centres have diagnostic facilities for twelve illnesses," the minister said.

More than six crore people in the country fall below the poverty line due to health expenditure, and the Ayushman Bharat health coverage scheme will change this, he said.