Key Details
National Programme
Programme: National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP), launched in 2018
Viruses covered: Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E
Objective: Prevent transmission, improve early diagnosis and expand access to treatment
Prevention and Treatment
Virus | Main Transmission | Key Prevention / Treatment |
|---|---|---|
Hepatitis A | Contaminated food and water | Safe water, sanitation and hygiene |
Hepatitis B | Mother-to-child, infected blood and body fluids | Birth-dose vaccination within 24 hours, followed by doses at 6, 10 and 14 weeks |
Hepatitis C | Infected blood, unsafe injections and contaminated medical procedures | Direct-acting antiviral medicines can cure nearly all patients within 12–24 weeks |
Hepatitis D | Occurs only in people with Hepatitis B | Prevented through Hepatitis B vaccination |
Hepatitis E | Contaminated food and water | Safe water, sanitation and outbreak control |
Programme Delivery
Free diagnostics and medicines for Hepatitis B and C
Patient tracking through the NVHCP-MIS digital portal
Testing and treatment being expanded from district hospitals to local health facilities
Toll-free helpline: 1800-11-6666
Surveillance
2021 surveillance findings: 0.85% tested positive for Hepatitis B and 0.29% for Hepatitis C
More Details
India Uses an Integrated Public Health Strategy to Control Viral Hepatitis
The PIB backgrounder explains that India's National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP) adopts an integrated approach to preventing, detecting and treating viral hepatitis. Rather than relying on a single disease-control programme, the strategy combines immunisation, maternal healthcare, disease surveillance, blood safety, targeted screening and free treatment to reduce infections and prevent long-term liver complications.
The programme contributes to India's efforts towards the 2030 goal of combating viral hepatitis by strengthening both prevention and access to care.
Different Types of Hepatitis Require Different Public Health Responses
The five major hepatitis viruses differ significantly in their transmission, prevention and treatment.
Hepatitis A and E are primarily associated with contaminated food and water, making safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene the principal preventive measures.
Hepatitis B spreads through infected blood, body fluids and from mother to child during birth. Universal immunisation, particularly administration of the birth dose within 24 hours, remains the most effective preventive intervention.
Hepatitis C is mainly transmitted through infected blood and unsafe medical practices. Although no vaccine is available, direct-acting antiviral medicines can cure nearly all patients within 12–24 weeks.
Because Hepatitis D occurs only among people already infected with Hepatitis B, widespread Hepatitis B vaccination also protects against Hepatitis D infection.
Early Diagnosis and Continued Treatment Are Critical
Many people with chronic Hepatitis B or C experience few or no symptoms during the early stages of infection, allowing liver damage to progress unnoticed over many years. The backgrounder therefore emphasises early screening, timely diagnosis and uninterrupted treatment as essential components of disease control.
Under the NVHCP, eligible patients receive free diagnostic services and medicines for the management of Hepatitis B and C, while programme data are monitored through the NVHCP-MIS platform to support patient follow-up and programme management.
Existing Health Programmes Expand the Reach of Hepatitis Services
A key feature of India's hepatitis strategy is its integration with existing public-health programmes rather than creating a parallel delivery system.
Maternal-health services support screening of pregnant women, the National AIDS Control Programme screens high-risk groups, blood-transfusion services identify and refer infected donors, and molecular-testing infrastructure developed under the tuberculosis programme can also support hepatitis diagnosis. Meanwhile, outbreaks of Hepatitis A and E are monitored through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).
By embedding hepatitis services within established health systems, the programme expands coverage while making use of existing laboratories, health workers and healthcare infrastructure.
What Is Viral Hepatitis?
Viral hepatitis refers to liver inflammation caused by hepatitis viruses. While some forms are usually short-term illnesses, chronic infection with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer if left untreated.
Policy Relevance
Prioritise Timely Birth-Dose Vaccination: Ensuring every newborn receives the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours remains critical, particularly following home births and deliveries in smaller health facilities.
Strengthen the Screening-to-Treatment Pathway: Screening programmes should consistently lead to confirmatory diagnosis, medical counselling and uninterrupted treatment.
Expand Targeted Testing: Pregnant women, healthcare workers, blood donors and populations at greater risk of blood-borne infections require regular screening and effective referral systems.
Integrate Disease Control Across Health Programmes: Coordinating immunisation, maternal health, HIV services, tuberculosis diagnostics, blood safety and disease surveillance can improve efficiency and expand service coverage.
Strengthen Surveillance and Outcome Monitoring: Programme performance should track treatment initiation, completion, cure rates and disease burden alongside testing volumes.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can India ensure that hepatitis screening conducted through immunisation, maternal health, blood-transfusion and HIV programmes consistently translates into timely diagnosis, treatment and long-term patient follow-up?
Follow the Full Update Here: India Strengthens Integrated Response to Viral Hepatitis