The Rajasthan Health Department on Monday, 28 July issued a public advisory urging residents to insist on fresh needles, new ink, and properly sterilised equipment when getting tattoos or body piercings, citing the risk of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C transmission through contaminated instruments. The advisory was released on World Hepatitis Day as the state stepped up its drive to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2030 under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme (NVHCP).

Key Announcements by State Officials

Principal Secretary, Medical and Health, Gayatri Rathore confirmed that screening and treatment for both Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are available free of cost at designated government health institutions across Rajasthan. She said the state is reinforcing testing, treatment, and preventive measures to meet the national elimination target. Rathore added that Hepatitis B vaccination is being administered to healthcare workers and other high-risk groups as a priority measure.

NHM Mission Director Jogaram stressed that newborns must receive the Hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. In cases where the mother tests positive, the newborn should additionally receive Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin (HBIG) immediately after delivery for enhanced protection.

Protecting Pregnant Women and Newborns

All pregnant women visiting government health facilities in Rajasthan undergo mandatory Hepatitis B screening to prevent mother-to-child transmission, which officials identified as one of the leading causes of infection in the state. Where a pregnant woman tests positive, her delivery is conducted under specialist medical supervision at a designated healthcare facility, ensuring both maternal and neonatal safety.

Rajasthan's Testing Network Under NVHCP

The state has built an extensive diagnostic infrastructure under the NVHCP. Viral hepatitis testing and viral load analysis are available at four state-level laboratories in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Ajmer, as well as 50 laboratories spread across 42 districts — covering medical colleges, district hospitals, sub-district hospitals, community health centres, and designated treatment centres. All these facilities offer free screening and treatment to eligible patients.

Mission Liver Smile and Broader Liver Health Push

Rathore also highlighted the state's 'Mission Liver Smile' initiative, launched to promote liver health and prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease — a condition increasingly linked to metabolic risk factors among urban and semi-urban populations. The initiative signals that Rajasthan's hepatitis response is now embedded within a wider liver-health framework, rather than treated as a standalone infectious-disease programme.

With the 2030 elimination deadline approaching, the convergence of free diagnostics, mandatory antenatal screening, newborn immunisation, and public awareness on tattooing practices represents Rajasthan's multi-pronged strategy to reduce the hepatitis burden across the state.