ONKAR SINGH / NEW DELHI
The government on Saturday launched National Viral Hepatitis Control programme to combat the disease by 2030 in the country. Under the initiative, free drugs and diagnostics for Hepatitis B and C will be provided at all government hospitals.
Launching the programme to mark the World Hepatitis Day in New Delhi, Health Minister JP Nadda said, this initiative will provide laboratory testing and management of viral Hepatitis with a de-centralized approach.
The Minister also released the Operational Guidelines for testing, diagnosis and management of Viral Hepatitis. He said the government is committed to eliminating viral Hepatitis by 2030.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said, the programme will benefit about five crore people.
National Viral Hepatitis Control programme aims at prevention and treatment of Hepatitis which is inflammation of the liver due to a viral infection. It is among the leading causes of liver cancer, cirrhosis of the liver and acute failure of the organ.