Kolkata, Jul 28 (PTI) The West Bengal government on Tuesday launched 12 new viral hepatitis treatment centres, taking the total number of such facilities in the state to 48.
The new centres were inaugurated by Health Minister Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay at a programme organised at the ‘Swasthya Bhavan’ to mark the ‘World Hepatitis Day’.
The expansion comes amid India’s efforts under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 through wider screening, free diagnostic services and treatment.
Speaking at the event, Mukhopadhyay said the state was working to strengthen collaboration between government and private healthcare providers to improve liver disease management.
“We are almost through with the process of forming a coordination committee of government and private doctors. Bringing private practitioners together is more challenging because of their professional commitments. Government doctors are required to attend such meetings, while private doctors participate voluntarily. We have invited them with respect and goodwill,” the minister said.
Minister of State for Health, Sumana Sarkar, senior government officials and doctors from both government and private hospitals attended the seminar.
Mukhopadhyay said the proposed committee would meet soon and prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline the management of liver diseases across healthcare institutions.
“The committee’s meeting will be convened shortly, and an SOP will be finalised within the next few days. Apart from viral hepatitis, it will also address non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic fatty liver disease so that treatment protocols remain uniform and effective,” Mukhopadhyay said.
Among others who were present at the programme were noted hepatologists and gastroenterologists Dr Mahesh Goenka, Dr Sujit Chowdhury, Dr Abhijit Chowdhury, Dr Dilip Todi and Dr Moinuddin Ahmed. PTI SCH ACD
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