Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh today called for a mission-mode national response driven by preventive healthcare and mass public awareness to tackle India’s liver epidemic and the sharp rise in Type-2 diabetes. Addressing the 3rd anniversary of the Liver and Metabolic Disease Network in New Delhi, Dr Singh said that these diseases are now appearing at much younger ages than before, making the challenge far more than a medical issue. Referring to India’s metabolic profile, the Minister said that the country’s genetic predisposition, higher prevalence of central obesity and distinct Indian phenotype make its population particularly vulnerable to diabetes, fatty liver and cardiovascular diseases.

Calling for greater synergy across scientific institutions, Dr Singh said that the country’s expanding biotechnology ecosystem, Genome Mission and large-scale gene sequencing programme offer unprecedented opportunities to understand India’s unique disease patterns. He added that scientific progress alone cannot overcome the challenge unless it is accompanied by widespread public awareness and behavioural change.