Publication:

National viral hepatitis control program in India: current status and SWOT analysis

Viral hepatitis is a public health problem in India. The National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) launched in 2018 paved a way in India’s journey towards universal health coverage but gaps remain in diagnostics, peripheral capacity, vaccine supply, and pediatric treatment access. This review maps the history of the program in India, its current status, gaps, and opportunities toward the 2030 elimination goals. For the purpose of this review, a comprehensive search of literature was conducted examining technical and operational guidelines, management protocols, policy documents, and review articles to understand India's journey towards viral hepatitis control. The program demonstrates multiple strengths including strong government commitment, comprehensive national guidelines, free diagnosis and treatment services, robust preventive strategies, and trained master trainers. However, several weaknesses exist as well like insufficient diagnostic infrastructure, limited molecular testing capacity, inadequate trained manpower at peripheral centers, erratic hepatitis B vaccine supply, vertical transmission prevention gaps, and no free treatment provision for children. The opportunities outlined include newer WHO guidelines extending treatment to children and adolescents, point-of-care diagnostic facilities, public-private partnerships, one-stop centers, dried blood spot testing, treat-all approaches, and establishing an adult immunization program. Major threats foreseen are competing national health programs diverting resources, dropout from diagnosis-treatment cascade, public and healthcare worker stigma, and limited private practitioner participation in the program. Although NVHCP has a robust framework aligned with global strategies, addressing gaps in awareness, logistics, and peripheral-level manpower through equity-focused innovation is essential to achieve 2030 elimination targets and advance universal health coverage.