Latest news with #IllnesstoWellnessFoundation
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Urgent Need for Action on Hepatitis: Experts
New Delhi: Only 3 per cent of hepatitis B patients in India are aware of their condition, and less than 1 per cent of eligible individuals receive antiviral treatment. "These are not just statistics—they reflect a silent public health crisis that demands immediate, coordinated action,' said Rajesh Bhushan, Former Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Chairperson, Illness to Wellness Foundation , during his keynote address at the 'Illness to Wellness' Awareness Conference held in New Delhi on World Hepatitis Day. Organised by the Illness to Wellness Foundation, the conference was held under the theme 'Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment for Hepatitis'. It brought together leading medical professionals, public health advocates, and policymakers to discuss India's rising hepatitis burden and the need for stronger policy, better access, and increased public awareness. Bhushan identified five urgent priorities- Expanded screening and surveillance, Timely administration of the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine, Decentralised access to treatment, Community-level awareness campaigns, Use of real-time data to drive interventions. He also emphasised the importance of collaborative action. 'Strategic interventions must be led not just by the government but through partnerships with civil society, the private sector, healthcare professionals, and the medical community,' he said. The conference served as a platform to call for coordinated national efforts to tackle hepatitis and move closer to elimination targets. In his welcome address, Anil Rajput, Chairperson, Advisory Council, Illness to Wellness foundation, said, 'This year's World Hepatitis Day theme, 'Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down,' is a powerful reminder that the fight against hepatitis requires a holistic, multi-dimensional approach that addresses the social, economic, and systemic roots of the disease.' During the session, health experts highlighted alarming global data that only 45% of new-borns receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, which is a critical gap in prevention. They also emphasised that WHO's 2030 target to eliminate hepatitis, which calls for a 90% reduction in new infections and 80% treatment coverage, hinges on several key strategies: universal vaccination, timely diagnosis, people-centred care, and widespread public awareness to combat stigma. The conference concluded with a call to action: to break the silence, scale the response, and build a hepatitis-free Bharat by 2030.
News18
2 days ago
- Health
- News18
Hepatitis B: Only 3 per cent patients aware, experts call for action
New Delhi, Jul 28 (PTI) With less than 1 per cent of the eligible hepatitis-B patients receiving treatment in India and only 3 per cent being aware of their condition, health experts on Monday called for systemic action to curb the spread of the disease. Calling the situation a 'silent epidemic", Rajesh Bhushan, former health secretary and chairperson of the Illness to Wellness Foundation, said, 'These are not just statistics. They represent thousands of preventable deaths and an unaddressed public health emergency." Speaking at the 'Illness to Wellness" awareness conference, Bhushan stressed the need for expanded screening, timely birth-dose vaccination, decentralised treatment access, community-level awareness and the use of real-time data, adding that systemic action is essential to curb the spread of hepatitis and meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2030 elimination target. The conference was organised on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day. During the discussion, the panellists highlighted that globally, only 45 per cent of newborns receive the hepatitis-B vaccine within 24 hours — a critical window for prevention. Dr S K Sarin, Senior Professor, Department of Hepatology, and Director, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, said the liver is not just a metabolic organ, it also plays a key role in preventing the development of cancers. Today, one in two persons in Delhi and one in three across the country reports persistent fatigue, which may be linked to liver health. He explained that two viruses — hepatitis A, which typically affects children, and hepatitis E, which affects adults — are both preventable with access to clean water and safe food. 'We can prevent both hepatitis A and E. While there is no vaccine for hepatitis E, we do have a vaccine for hepatitis A," Sarin said. Talking about the chronic forms of the disease, he noted that hepatitis B, C and D are transmitted through blood and body fluids, with hepatitis B being largely passed from the mother to the child. A person being diagnosed with hepatitis B at the age of 30 is a common scenario today, he added. 'We ask, how did he get it? The answer often lies in vertical transmission. You cannot choose your mother and most likely, if you have hepatitis B, you inherited it at birth. Today, about 95 per cent hepatitis-B cases are due to mother-to-child transmission," Sarin said. He added that hepatitis C is also transmitted through blood and body fluids, but unlike B and D, it is curable. A three-month course of treatment can cure most hepatitis-C cases and this treatment is covered under the national programme. The conference, based on the theme of 'Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatitis", brought together health professionals, policymakers and civil-society leaders for a panel discussion on India's hepatitis burden and strategies to bridge treatment gaps and combat stigma. Dr D S Rana, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, and an advisory council member of the foundation, said, 'As we heard from the experts, a liver failure has no full treatment except a liver transplant and even partial treatments are extremely expensive and inaccessible for most." 'The reality is that hepatitis is a preventable disease and prevention is our strongest alternative. Over the last 75 years, medical science has made remarkable progress in understanding such diseases, but the key lies in public awareness and early action," he added. Anil Rajput, the chairperson of the foundation's advisory council, linked hepatitis prevention with broader national programmes. 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Har Ghar Jal Yojana and Eat Right India are already reshaping the landscape. These initiatives are critical in reducing risk factors like poor sanitation, unsafe drinking water and food-borne infections," he said. PTI NSM RC view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 22:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Health
- Hans India
Only 3% of Hepatitis B Patients in India Know They Are Infected; Less Than 1% Receive Treatment
'Only 3% of hepatitis B patients in India are aware of their condition, and less than 1% of eligible individuals are receiving antiviral treatment. These are not just statistics, they reflect a silent public health crisis that demands immediate, coordinated action,' said Rajesh Bhushan, Former Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, and Chairperson, Illness to Wellness Foundation, during his keynote address at the 'Illness to Wellness' Awareness Conference held in New Delhi on World Hepatitis Day. The Illness to Wellness Foundation organised the conference in New Delhi today, to mark World Hepatitis Day, centred around the theme 'Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment for Hepatitis.' The event brought together leading medical experts, policymakers, and public health advocates to highlight the urgency of tackling India's growing hepatitis burden through policy reform, improved access, and greater public awareness. Speaking to the gathering, Bhushan underscored the need for bold, systemic efforts. He identified five urgent priorities to address the increasing hepatitis cases - expanded screening and surveillance, ensuring timely birth-dose vaccination, decentralisation of treatment access, driving community-level awareness, and using real-time data for action. He also stressed the need for robust partnerships and said, 'Strategic interventions must be driven not only by the government but also through collaboration with civil society, the private sector, public health professionals, and the medical community'. In his welcome address, Anil Rajput, Chairperson, Advisory Council, Illness to Wellness Foundation, said, 'Under the visionary leadership of our Honourable Prime Minister, the government has launched several impactful initiatives that are combating diseases like Hepatitis. Programs such as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Har Ghar Jal Yojana, and Eat Right India are playing a transformative role in improving hygiene, ensuring clean drinking water, and promoting safe food practices, each critical in preventing hepatitis. This year's World Hepatitis Day theme, 'Hepatitis: Let's Break It Down,' is a powerful reminder that the fight against hepatitis requires a holistic, multi-dimensional approach that addresses the social, economic, and systemic roots of the disease. Our Foundation is committed to complementing the efforts of the government and further strengthening preventive health awareness across the country.' During the session, health experts highlighted alarming global data that only 45% of new-borns receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, which is a critical gap in prevention. They also emphasised that WHO's 2030 target to eliminate hepatitis, which calls for a 90% reduction in new infections and 80% treatment coverage, hinges on several key strategies: universal vaccination, timely diagnosis, people-centred care, and widespread public awareness to combat stigma. Giving the concluding remarks, Padma Shri Dr. (Prof.) D S Rana, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Sir Gangaram Hospital & Member, Advisory Council, Illness to Wellness Foundation, said, 'I want to thank everyone for attending today's important event. As we heard from the experts, liver failure has no full treatment except liver transplant, and even partial treatments are extremely expensive and inaccessible for most. The reality is that hepatitis is a preventable disease, and prevention is our strongest alternative. Over the past 75 years, medical science has made remarkable progress in understanding such diseases, but the key lies in public awareness and early action. I would like to congratulate the Illness to Wellness Foundation for their continued good work in driving preventive health efforts across the country.' The conference concluded with a call to action: to break the silence, scale the response, and build a hepatitis-free Bharat by 2030.
