Tripura aims to eliminate hepatitis within four years: Chief Minister
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, July 29, 2026
Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Tuesday said the state government aims to make Tripura hepatitis-free within the next four years through enhanced screening, vaccination and public awareness campaigns.
Speaking at the World Hepatitis Day programme organised by the Hepatitis Foundation of Tripura in collaboration with the National Health Mission and the Health and Family Welfare Department at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhavan here, Dr Saha said keeping people healthy remains one of the government's key priorities.
The chief minister said nearly 300 million people worldwide are infected with Hepatitis B and C viruses, describing the disease as a "silent killer". He said the day is observed to mark the birth anniversary of Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the Hepatitis B virus and developed its vaccine.
Dr Saha said the Centre and the state government were implementing several initiatives to eliminate hepatitis. Stressing that scientific treatment and public awareness are crucial to preventing the spread of the disease, he called for continuous expansion of screening and greater training for health workers in both rural and urban areas.
He said the government had significantly strengthened the state's healthcare infrastructure, leading to a reduction in referrals from subdivisions and districts to major hospitals. Tripura now has nine super-specialty blocks, while advanced medical facilities are available at GB Pant Hospital, he said.
The chief minister also announced that a government Homoeopathy Medical College would be established and administrative work for the proposed Medical University would begin soon. He said vaccination drives for children and adolescents were continuing as part of the state's preventive healthcare strategy.
Dr Saha also highlighted the success of the "Sustha Shoishab, Sustha Koishore" programme and said beneficiaries across the state were receiving healthcare support under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
Health Secretary Kiran Gitte, National Health Mission Mission Director Saju Vaheed A, Health Director Dr Debashree Debbarma and Tripura Hepatitis Foundation Director Dr Pradip Bhowmik also attended the programme. During the event, the chief minister released the foundation's newsletter and distributed prizes to winners of an essay competition organised to mark World Hepatitis Day.
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