SYLLABUS

GS-2: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

Context: India is strengthening its efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 through the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP), which focuses on prevention, early diagnosis, and free treatment services.

About the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP)

• It was launched in 2018 to provide comprehensive prevention, diagnosis and treatment services in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

• The programme covers Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.

• It adopts preventive, promotive and curative interventions, focusing on awareness generation, improving access to healthcare, and ensuring diagnosis and treatment for all those in need.

• Free diagnostics and medicines are provided for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C patients across the country.

• Hepatitis A and E are monitored through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), while patient management and monitoring are carried out through the paperless NVHCP-MIS portal.

• The programme has been integrated with several national health initiatives:

• Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) Programme – Universal screening of pregnant women for Hepatitis B.
• Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) – Hepatitis B birth dose for all newborns and Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin (HBIG) for babies born to infected mothers.
• National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) – Screening of high-risk groups for Hepatitis B and C and preventive vaccination.
• National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) – Use of existing molecular testing facilities for hepatitis diagnosis.
• Blood Transfusion Services – Linkage of Hepatitis B and C positive blood donors with healthcare services.

• The initiative supports India's commitment to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

About Hepatitis

• Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by hepatitis viruses, other infections, toxic substances (such as alcohol and drugs), or autoimmune diseases.

• There are five major hepatitis viruses—Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E.

• Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are the leading causes of chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer.

• Hepatitis A and E:

• Spread mainly through contaminated food and water due to poor sanitation.
• Prevention includes safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation.
• Usually self-limiting and managed through supportive care such as hydration and proper nutrition.

• Hepatitis B:

• Transmitted mainly from an infected mother to a child during birth and through infected blood, blood products and body fluids.
• Preventable through the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), including a birth dose within 24 hours of birth, followed by doses at 6, 10 and 14 weeks.
• Chronic infection is managed with antiviral medicines as per national guidelines.

• Hepatitis C:

• Spread mainly through unsafe injections, medical procedures, sharing of needles, and infected blood.
• No vaccine is currently available.
• Nearly all patients can be cured within 12–24 weeks using Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) medicines.

• Hepatitis D:

• o Occurs only in people already infected with Hepatitis B.
• o Prevention of Hepatitis B through vaccination also protects against Hepatitis D.

• Seroprevalence in India:

• o According to India's 2021 HIV Sentinel Surveillance, 0.85% of samples tested positive for Hepatitis B and 0.29% for Hepatitis C, equivalent to approximately 1 in 118 and 1 in 345 persons tested, respectively.
• o Globally, around 287 million people were living with chronic Hepatitis B or C in 2024, with 1.3 million deaths and nearly 2 million new infections annually.