Free liver health screening camp for police personnel launched
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Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Health Talk: Taking the road to hepatitis elimination
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently classified hepatitis D as carcinogenic—cancer-causing—to humans, just like hepatitis B and C. Hepatitis D, which only affects individuals infected with hepatitis B, is associated with a two- to six-fold higher risk of liver cancer compared to hepatitis B alone, it added. (AP/ Representative photo) Hepatitis D, which only affects individuals infected with hepatitis B, is associated with a two- to six-fold higher risk of liver cancer compared to hepatitis B alone, it added. Viral hepatitis – types A, B, C, D, and E – are major causes of acute liver infection. Among these, only hepatitis B, C, and D can lead to chronic infections that significantly increase the risk of cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. Each year, July 28 is observed as World Hepatitis Day, as viral hepatitis continues to remain a serious public health threat and one of the primary causes of liver cancer. Yet most people with hepatitis don't know they're infected, says the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the UN health body, types B, C, and D affect at least 300 million people globally and cause at least 1.3 million deaths each year, mainly from liver cirrhosis and cancer. In a paper published on Monday, The Lancet Commission also mentioned that three in five liver cancer cases happen due to preventable risk factors, including fatty liver, alcohol, and viral hepatitis. It also added that obesity-linked cancer cases are on the rise. The majority of liver cancer cases can be prevented by reducing levels of viral hepatitis, alcohol consumption, and MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease – previously called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), it said. Liver cancer is already a major cause of death and disability. Globally, it's the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of death from cancer. Interestingly, the Commission estimated in the paper that at least 60% of liver cancers are preventable via control of modifiable risk factors, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), MASLD, and alcohol. While there are preventive measures and treatment available to combat this public health threat, last year's Global Hepatitis Report underscored some challenges that majorly impact disease management. According to the report, testing and treatment coverage remain critically low: only 13% of people with hepatitis B and 36% with hepatitis C had been diagnosed by 2022. Treatment rates were even lower – 3% for hepatitis B and 20% for hepatitis C – well below the 2025 targets of 60% diagnosed and 50% treated. Integration of hepatitis services remained uneven: 80 countries have incorporated hepatitis services into primary health care, 128 into HIV programmes, and just 27 have integrated hepatitis C services into harm reduction centres. The next challenge, according to the report, will be to scale up the implementation of prevention, testing, and treatment coverage. Achieving WHO's 2030 targets could save 2.8 million lives and prevent 9.8 million new infections. With declining donor support, countries must prioritize domestic investment, integrated services, better data, affordable medicines, and ending stigma, said experts in the report. 'Every 30 seconds, someone dies from a hepatitis-related severe liver disease or liver cancer. Yet we have the tools to stop hepatitis,' WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement on World Hepatitis Day. He is right. We have the tools at our disposal; all we need is for stakeholders—governments, civil society, community leaders, etc.—to come together, to jointly work towards eliminating hepatitis.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
GMCH, AIIMS-N Set Benchmarks In Organ Donation & Transplant, Win National Awards
Nagpur: The city has emerged as a national beacon in the field of organ donation and transplantation, with the Government Medical College & Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur, and AIIMS-Nagpur receiving prestigious awards at the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day (IODD) organized in New Delhi on Saturday. GMCH was conferred the 'Best Brain Stem Death Certifying Team' award while AIIMS-Nagpur bagged the 'Emerging Govt Institution in Organ Donation and Transplantation' award. The awards, presented by Union health minister JP Nadda at the event organised by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, mark a significant milestone in Vidarbha's growing leadership in public healthcare and transplant services. On behalf of GMCH, medical superintendent Dr Avinash Gawande received the award that recognizes exemplary work in facilitating organ donation through accurate and ethical certification procedures. Over the past year, GMCH facilitated 11 cadaveric organ donations, resulting in the retrieval of 21 kidneys, 10 livers, and 18 corneas. The hospital has so far performed 90 kidney transplants, including India's first robotic kidney transplant in a govt hospital conducted on July 20, 2025. AIIMS-Nagpur was honoured for its rapid and impactful entry into the organ transplantation space. Since initiating its transplant programme in December 2022, AIIMS-Nagpur recorded 22 deceased organ donations, including 18 brain stem deaths (BSD) and 4 Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) cases. Notably, AIIMS-Nagpur became the first AIIMS in the country and only the third medical institution in India to successfully perform a DCD-based organ transplant, setting a precedent for other govt institutions. Speaking on the national recognition for GMCH, Dr Gawande said, "This reflects the commitment of our entire team to provide ethical, advanced, and life-saving care through organ transplantation." Dr PP Joshi, executive director of AIIMS-Nagpur, stressed that this is just the beginning. "AIIMS-Nagpur is committed to making a long-term impact in this field. We aim to create a model that blends clinical excellence with compassion and public awareness," he said. GMCH dean Dr Raj Gajbhiye announced that the Superspeciality Hospital (SSH) is ready to handle all kinds of organ transplants. "The heart transplant is expected to begin within two months. We are technically and medically ready for kidney and liver transplants, and heart transplant capability is on the immediate horizon," he said. # MAJOR PUSH FOR ORGAN DONATION — GMCH-Nagpur Award: Best Brain Stem Death Certifying Team Brain Stem Death Donations (last 1 year): 11 Organs Retrieved: Kidneys 21; Livers 10; Corneas 18 Total Kidney Transplants Performed: 90 — AIIMS-Nagpur Award: Emerging Govt Institution in Organ Donation and Transplantation Total Kidney Transplants: 46: Live Donor: 14; Deceased Donor: 32 Total Deceased Donors: 22 Bone Marrow Transplants: 11 Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
WHO declares Hepatitis D virus as "carcinogenic": What does this mean amidst rising liver diseases
The World Health Organization has declared Hepatitis D as cancer-causing. This announcement coincides with World Hepatitis Day. WHO urges global action against viral hepatitis to reduce liver cancer deaths. Hepatitis affects millions worldwide, causing numerous deaths annually. Early detection and management are crucial. India faces a significant burden of viral hepatitis cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have classified the hepatitis D virus (HDV) as carcinogenic to humans. HDV has joined hepatitis B and C on the list of cancer-causing agents. On Monday, during the occasion of World Hepatitis Day, July 28, 2025, WHO urged governments and partners to accelerate efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat and reduce liver cancer deaths. Hepatitis (B, C, and, D) affects over 300 million people globally and claims 1.3 million lives each year, mainly from liver cirrhosis and cancer. "Every 30 seconds, someone dies from a hepatitis-related severe liver disease or liver cancer. Yet we have the tools to stop hepatitis,' Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said in a statement. Viral hepatitis (types A, B, C, D, and E), is the major cause of acute liver infection. Hepatitis B, C, and D can result in chronic infections that increase the risk of liver cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. Yet most people with hepatitis don't know they're infected. What is Hepatitis D Hepatitis D, also known as delta hepatitis, is a rare but severe liver infection caused by the Hepatitis D virus. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Moose Approaches Girl At Bus Stop In Chittagong - Watch What Happens Happy in Shape Undo It is rare because it can only infect people who are already infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HDV can only occur as a co-infection or superinfection in people who are HBV-positive. Hepatitis D is carcinogenic The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has recently classified hepatitis D as carcinogenic to humans. Compared to HBV alone, HDV has a two- to six-fold higher risk of liver cancer, making it a serious infection. By classifying HDV as carcinogenic, the health organizations are hoping to raise awareness, improve screening, and expand access to new treatments for hepatitis D across the globe. 'WHO has published guidelines on testing and diagnosis of Hepatitis B and D in 2024, and is actively following the clinical outcomes from innovative treatments for hepatitis D,' Dr Meg Doherty, incoming Director of Science for Health at WHO, said. What is the treatment for HDV? Oral medication can treat Hepatitis C within 2 to 3 months, while effectively controlling hepatitis B with lifelong treatment. The treatment options for HDV, on the other hand, are still developing. Major progress in preventing liver cirrhosis and cancer deaths depends on further steps in managing the global burden such as vaccination, testing, harm reduction, and treatment. In a 2024 report , the WHO had said that India had over 3.5 crore cases of viral hepatitis, including 2.98 crore hepatitis B cases, in 2022, which accounts for 11.6% of the total disease burden globally that year. 7 Ways to check for fatty liver at home Liver diseases are on the rise globally, and HDV being classified as carcinogenic has raised concerns. It adds to the urgency to address this growing crisis, as co-infections exacerbate liver damage and cancer risk. Regular screening and early detection of co-infections, including HDV, will be crucial in reducing the global burden of viral hepatitis
