The Government of India has long been committed to the task of prevention and control of viral hepatitis in the country. For this purpose, several activities are currently being undertaken by several divisions of the Ministry of Health &Family Welfare (MoHFW). These include:

• Swachh Bharat Mission
• Safe drinking water and sanitation program
• Provision of sanitary toilet to every household
• Smart city with good sewage system
• River water pollution control
• Hygiene and sanitation in municipal areas
• Biomedical waste management
• Immunization
• Injection safety and infection control
• Safety of blood and blood products
• Harm reduction in key populations (through NACP)
• Surveillance of viral hepatitis.

Hepatitis B birth dose is recommended for all infants in first 24 hours in the national immunization schedule, followed by three primary series at 6,10 and 14 weeks.

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India has formed a National Technical Expert Group on injection safety that advises the ministry on different aspects of injection safety and waste management.

Blood Banks are under the regulation of “The Drugs and Cosmetics Act (1940)” and the regulations therein. The Act mandates screening of every unit of blood for HBV and HCV prior to transfusion. Ensuring the availability of safe blood is an important measure to prevent viral hepatitis.

Source: National Action Plan Combating Viral Hepatitis in India 2019. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India.