Health experts call for a five-pronged approach for hepatitis-free Bharat by 2030

Public health experts on Monday flagged an urgent need for systemic action to tackle the growing Hepatitis B crisis in India.

Speaking at the Illness to Wellness Awareness Conference in New Delhi on World Hepatitis Day, Rajesh Bhushan, former Secretary of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and Chairperson, Illness to Wellness Foundation, outlined five key priorities: expanding screening and surveillance, ensuring timely birth-dose vaccination, decentralising access to treatment, increasing community-level awareness, and using real-time data for informed action.

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Bhushan affirmed his support for raising public awareness and urged boosting the health strategy to fight the viral disease, “Only 3 per cent of hepatitis B patients in India are aware of their condition, and less than 1 per cent of eligible individuals are receiving antiviral treatment. These are not just statistics; they reflect a silent public health crisis that demands immediate, coordinated action.”

During the session, health experts also highlighted alarming global data that only 45 per cent of newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, which is a critical gap in prevention.

They also emphasised that WHO’s 2030 target to eliminate hepatitis, which calls for a 90 per cent reduction in new infections and 80 per cent treatment coverage, hinges on several key strategies: universal vaccination, timely diagnosis, people-centered care, and widespread public awareness to combat stigma.

Addressing the gathering, Anil Rajput, Chairperson, Advisory Council, Illness to Wellness Foundation, spotlighted the initiatives taken by the government that aid in combating diseases like Hepatitis. “Programs such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Har Ghar Jal Yojana, and Eat Right India are playing a transformative role in improving hygiene, ensuring clean drinking water, and promoting safe food practices, each critical in preventing hepatitis,” he added.

The conference concluded with a call to action: to break the silence, scale the response, and build a hepatitis-free Bharat by 2030.