- Union minister minister of state for health Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey on February 24, 2019 launched National Action Plan – Viral Hepatitis in Mumbai in presence of Amitabh Bachchan, the goodwill ambassador for hepatitis, WHO South-East Asia Region.
- The programmed aims at eliminating viral hepatitis, recognized as an important public health problem.
As per the Union Minister, the programme is also in line with the country’s global commitment towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3. India has affirmed this commitment at the 69th World Health Assembly.
The aim of the programme is to combat hepatitis and achieve countrywide elimination of Hepatitis C by 2030. - One model hepatitis treatment centre will be established in each State in a government institution in the first year. While the number of model centres will be increased gradually, by the end of the second year, efforts will be made to establish one such centre at district level.
- India is one of the few countries to roll out management of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in a public health approach and offer free diagnostics and drugs lifelong to its beneficiaries.
About Viral Hepatitis
- Viral hepatitis is a global public health problem that kills nearly 2.72 lakh people annually.
- It is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by five known hepatitis viruses — A, B,C,D and E. Of these, B and C are known to cause 96% mortality.
- Hepatitis B and C are transmitted by unsafe injection practices, infected blood and blood products, sexual transmission and from mother to child. The infections can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancers.
