The plan is expected to help identify those inadvertently infected with the hepatitis C virus from an estimated population of 60 lakh to 1.2 crore people. However, the emergence of new oral drugs for the treatment of hepatitis C offers hope to the millions living with the disease. The World Health Organisation says that access to hepatitis C treatment in India "has been limited, expensive and beyond the reach of the majority of infected persons". Hepatitis C carries the risk of long-term chronic liver disease and death from its complications. Chronic hepatitis C accounts for up to a fifth of liver cirrhosis cases and up to a third of liver cancer cases.

Source: The Telegraph January 07, 2018 22:30 UTC