Lok Sabha Question No. 4035 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-10
Subject: Hepatitis and Kala Azar
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, NAGARAJAN P.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4035 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH AUGUST, 2018

## HEPATITIS AND KALA A ZAR

## 4035. SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: SHRI P. NAGARAJAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether cases of hepatitis infections are on the rise in the country, if so, the number of cases of various types of hepatitis infections reported during each of th  last three years and the current year, type and State/UT -wise;

(b) the details of various programmes/ schemes proposed/launched for treatment/ elimination of various types of hepatitis diseases in the country;

- (c) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government for prevention and control of various  types  of  hepatitis and  Kala  Azar  along  with  the  funds allocated  and  utilised  for  the purpose during the said period, State/UT - wise; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be taken  by  the  Government  for  affordable treatm ent  and ensuring the quality and safety of drugs in this regard?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a): There is no nationally representative data for estimating disease burden. Currentl is  no  reporting  mechanism  to  estimate  the  number  of  cases  of  various  types  of  hep infections.
- (b) & (c): National Viral Hepatitis Control Program has been lau nch d on 28 th July 2018 under the National Health Mission with a budget outlay of Rs 517.35 crores over 3 years.

Prevention: The program will address the following preventive measures

- Awareness generation & behavior change communication
- Immunization for h epatitis B -birth dose, high risk groups, health care workers
- Provision of safe blood and blood products through 100% voluntary blood donations
- Injection safety by use of re - use prevention/auto disable syringes in all government health care facilities
- Safe socio - cultural practices
- Safe drinking water and sanitation

The  program  division  will  liaise  with  existing  programs  under  various  Ministries Departments such as Immunisation Division, National AIDS Control Organisation  ( blood safety and targeted intervention), Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanita for the above prevention activities.

Control (diagnosis and treatment): Quality testing for all types of viral hepati be  carried  out  for diagnosis  of  viral  hepatitis  upto  Primary  Health  Care/Health  and  Wellne Centre level in a phased manner. Those who are eligible for hepatitis B and C treatment s on  antiviral  treatment  by  trained  health  care  providers  in  designated  treatment  cen tres  at Government Medical Colleges and District Hospitals.

(d): The drugs will be provided free of cost to the patients. The drugs shall be ce procured for economies of scale adhering to all quality parameters. The procurement will alignment with the standard treatment protocols which have been developed b y technical experts from across the country.