Centre Launches Nationwide Campaign to Improve Early Detection of Liver Diseases

New Delhi, Aug. 1: The Union Health Ministry has launched a nationwide awareness and screening campaign aimed at improving the early detection of liver diseases amid growing concerns over the increasing burden of fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and alcohol related liver disorders in the country.

The initiative will be implemented through district hospitals, community health centres, and primary healthcare facilities, with a special focus on identifying high-risk individuals before complications develop. Medical professionals will conduct screening camps, counselling sessions, and public awareness programmes to encourage timely diagnosis and treatment.

Health officials said lifestyle-related illnesses, obesity, diabetes, and excessive alcohol consumption have significantly contributed to the rise in liver ailments over the past decade. The campaign will integrate liver health checks with existing non-communicable disease programmes to ensure wider outreach.

Doctors participating in the programme have been advised to educate people about maintaining healthy body weight, reducing alcohol intake, adopting balanced diets, and undergoing regular medical examinations, particularly for individuals with diabetes or metabolic disorders.

The ministry also plans to strengthen referral systems so that patients requiring specialised care can be transferred to tertiary hospitals without delay. Public health experts believe that early intervention can prevent serious complications such as liver cirrhosis and liver cancer while reducing long-term healthcare costs.

Officials said awareness activities will continue over the coming months, with periodic evaluation to assess the campaign’s effectiveness in improving early diagnosis across both urban and rural regions.