India's push to eliminate hepatitis by 2030: Progress and challenges

India is racing against a 2030 deadline to eliminate viral hepatitis, a disease that silently affects millions across the country. The government's National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) has been the backbone of this effort, offering free screening and treatment at public health facilities. But experts say the fight is far from over.

Hepatitis B and C, which cause liver cirrhosis and cancer, often go undetected until they have already caused irreversible damage. A recent report highlighted by The Indian Express described a patient who had no symptoms of Hepatitis B but was diagnosed too late for effective treatment. This scenario is alarmingly common in India.

Free screening camps and public outreach

On Monday, the Postgraduate Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (PILBS) in Mohali, in collaboration with the Punjab government, organised a liver health camp. The camp offered free hepatitis screening, consultations, and vaccinations. Such camps are part of a broader strategy to catch the disease early.

According to DD India, the NVHCP has set up testing facilities in district hospitals and community health centres. The aim is to screen 10 crore people for hepatitis B and C by 2027. Patients who test positive are provided free antiviral therapy, which can cure Hepatitis C in 12 weeks and control Hepatitis B long-term.

The challenge of late diagnosis

Despite these efforts, awareness remains patchy. Dr Shubham Vatsya, a gastroenterologist quoted by The Times of India, explained that many families do not know that Hepatitis B can be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth, or through unsafe injections and blood transfusions. "Without symptoms, people assume they are healthy. By the time jaundice or fatigue appears, the liver may already be scarred," he said.

A BusinessLine report on breaking barriers to hepatitis care noted that stigma and lack of information prevent people from getting tested. Many patients avoid clinics due to fear of discrimination at work or in their communities. Health workers say this is why door-to-door screening and school-based vaccination drives are critical.

Treatment and vaccination drives

India introduced the hepatitis B vaccine into its Universal Immunization Programme in 2011. Coverage has improved, but gaps remain in rural and tribal areas. For Hepatitis C, there is no vaccine, but direct-acting antiviral drugs have made it curable. The challenge is ensuring patients complete their treatment course.

The government has also launched a national helpline and mobile vans for remote areas. PILBS, Mohali, has been a key partner, training doctors in smaller towns to diagnose and manage hepatitis. The camp on Monday is expected to screen over 1,000 people and provide free medicines to those in need.

What still needs to be done

India accounts for roughly 10% of the global hepatitis burden. The World Health Organization's goal of eliminating hepatitis by 2030 means reducing new infections by 90% and deaths by 65%. India has made progress, but experts say the pace must quicken.

Key gaps include inadequate testing infrastructure in primary health centres, shortage of trained gastroenterologists in district hospitals, and low awareness among high-risk groups such as healthcare workers and people who inject drugs. The government is now focusing on integrating hepatitis screening with other disease control programs, such as those for HIV and tuberculosis.

In the coming months, the NVHCP is expected to release updated treatment guidelines and expand the list of centres offering free antiviral therapy. For millions of Indians living with undiagnosed hepatitis, that cannot come soon enough.