India has reaffirmed its commitment to combating Viral Hepatitis and eliminating Hepatitis B and C as public health threats by 2030. Addressing a side event of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, organised by the UN Group of Friends to Eliminate Hepatitis, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava highlighted India’s comprehensive, people-centred response across prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and care.

The Health Secretary said India has strengthened interventions across the continuum from antenatal screening and Hepatitis B immunisation to free diagnosis and treatment, safe blood transfusion services, counselling and rehabilitation support for people who inject drugs. She emphasised the importance of sustained global cooperation, equitable access to prevention, testing and treatment, and stronger health systems to accelerate progress towards the 2030 targets.