India provides free hepatitis diagnosis and treatment through its National Viral Hepatitis Control Program (NVHCP) at government hospitals. This initiative includes free screening for Hepatitis A, B, C, and E. It also provides advanced viral load testing and antiviral drugs for chronic infections.
- Available services: Program offers free screening, diagnostic testing, and lifelong treatment for Hepatitis B.
- Treatment access: Services are available at government medical colleges and designated district treatment centers.
- Medication coverage: Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs for Hepatitis C are provided at no cost.
- Prevention efforts: New-borns receive a free Hepatitis B birth dose to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Private sector volume in India remains high despite free government programs because specialized care is more concentrated. For example, BLK Super Speciality Hospital and Global Hospital Chennai handle thousands of complex cases, using advanced equipment that may not be available at crowded public district centers. Patients often choose private care to secure immediate access to specialists like Dr. Yogesh Batra, who has over 20+ years of experience in hepatology.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that while government care is free, tests are sometimes out of stock or results take weeks. Many prefer private clinics because they get diagnostic results in 2 days and avoid the long queues and paperwork required for state eligibility.
