With an estimated 60 million people suffering from viral hepatitis and facing risk of serious liver disease, liver cancer, and even death, the Union Health Ministry is mulling developing a national action plan for treatment, care and prevention of the disease.
Acknowledging the health needs of the patients infected with the disease, CK Mishra, Health Secretary said that a national action plan to combat hepatitis is needed and resources should not be a limiting factor for the success of the cause.
"There was a unanimity that India should develop a 'National Action Plan on Viral Hepatitis (NAP-VH)' within the next 6 to 12 months," he said assuring that antiviral drugs are likely to be included in the essential drug list to be provided free to the sector.
Mishra was speaking at the3rdNationalconsultative meeting on viral hepatitis on Friday organised by the WHO Global Office and Health Ministry in partnership with Delhi-based Institute of liver and Biliary Sciences here.
IlBS, organised viral hepatitis is caused by infection with any of at least five distinct viruses — hepatitis A virus (HAV), HBV, HCV, hepatitis D virus (HDV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV). HBV and HCV can progress to chronic infections, but many who are chronically infected manifest no obvious signs or symptoms for decades-until they present with cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, or hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer).
Because chronic viral hepatitis B and C infection can persist for decades without symptoms, 65-75 per cent of infected Indians remain unaware of their infection status and are not receiving necessary care and treatment.
Soumya Swaminathan, Secretary Health Research stressed on importance of screening and surveillance and need to standardise hepatitis tests in the country and providing safe blood and water.
Dr Gottfried Hirnschall, Global lead from WHO on viral hepatitis discussed how India, the pharmacy of the world can eliminate hepatitis B and C faster than other countries while Dr HenkBekedam, Country head WHO, said India should have more and more hepatitis testing and treatment centers, like ART centers.
Dr Shiv Kumar Sarin, Director IlBS, said that the budget allotment for hepatitis is negligible, and even if 1 per cent of the money, meant for making highways, can be given per year for viral hepatitis for free diagnosis and drug treatment, India could eliminate Hepatitis C and B quickly. He also sought hepatitis B vaccination coverage to be reached to 90-100 per cent by 2020.
