India’s battle against Hepatitis B and C, as starkly highlighted in a recent WHO report, presents a grim tableau of a health crisis at large. With nearly 3 crore individuals grappling with Hepatitis B and over 50 lakh suffering from Hepatitis C, India shoulders the world’s second-largest burden of these liver ailments. The toll is heavy, with more than a lakh succumbing to these diseases in 2022 alone. Alarmingly, the detection rates for these infections are abysmally low—less than 30% for Hepatitis C and a mere fraction above that for Hepatitis B. The National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP), with its ambitious goal to obliterate Hepatitis C by 2030 and significantly curtail the morbidity and mortality associated with Hepatitis B, is at a critical juncture. The WHO’s recent findings serve as a clarion call for India to galvanize its efforts towards these targets. Yet, amidst the concerning data, the WHO also offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that a strategic “course correction” between 2024 and 2026 could steer the NVHCP back on course.
The transmission pathways of Hepatitis B and C—through exposure to contaminated blood—pose significant public health challenges. The insidious nature of these viruses, with carriers often asymptomatic for years, complicates detection and containment efforts. Despite the availability of free testing and medication under the NVHCP since its inception in 2018, a vast majority of those afflicted remain outside the purview of treatment and the prevention strategies, particularly for Hepatitis B through early vaccination, are not reaching their full potential. The fact that less than 50% of infants receive the crucial birth dose of the vaccine is a telling indicator of the healthcare system’s limitations, particularly in rural areas where institutional births are less common. The situation with Hepatitis C, though somewhat more optimistic given the availability and affordability of effective anti-viral treatments in India, is no less dire. The substantial proportion of patients escaping diagnosis points to a broader issue—a healthcare infrastructure in urgent need of enhancement. To ignore this imperative is to risk the health and well-being of millions. The WHO’s report should act as a catalyst for India to intensify its efforts, ensuring that the fight against Hepatitis and other infectious diseases is marked by resolve, resource allocation, and a commitment to public health that leaves no one behind.
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