The Illness to Wellness Awareness Conference on “Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatitis”

The Illness to Wellness Awareness Conference on “Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatitis” will be held on Monday, 28th July 2025, at Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi, to mark World Hepatitis Day 2025 under the global theme “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down.” Organised by the Illness to Wellness Foundation, the conference aims to bring together leading experts, public health professionals, and stakeholders to deliberate on advancing awareness, diagnosis, and management of hepatitis in India, while aligning with the nation’s goal of hepatitis elimination by 2030.

The day will begin with registration from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, followed by the Inaugural Session from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, focusing on key topics including the prevention and management of hepatitis, the significance of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program, strategies for hepatitis elimination, the role of vaccination, research innovations, co-infection management, and multi-sectoral collaboration.

The Welcome Address will be delivered by Mr. Anil Rajput, Chairperson, Advisory Council, Illness to Wellness Foundation. This will be followed by a Special Address by Dr. (Prof.) L. H. Ghotekar, Medical Superintendent, Lady Hardinge Medical College. Dr. (Prof.) Anil Agarwal, Head of GI Surgery at GB Pant Institute, will speak on the challenges and way forward in hepatitis care. Dr. Ankur Mutreja, Director of External Affairs and Health Security at PATH India, will highlight the importance of partnerships, and Dr. (Prof.) Ashok Kumar, Director of ABVIMS and Dr. RML Hospital, MoHFW, GoI, will stress the importance of strengthening health institutions. A special address offering an overview of hepatitis will be given by (Padma Bhushan) Dr. (Prof.) S. K. Sarin, Director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi. The Keynote Address will be delivered by Mr. Rajesh Bhushan, Former Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, and Chairperson, Governing Council, Illness to Wellness Foundation. The session will conclude with remarks from (Padma Shri) Dr. (Prof.) D. S. Rana, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Member, Advisory Council, Illness to Wellness Foundation.

Following this, Session I, titled “Barriers and Solutions to Hepatitis Elimination”, will take place from 11:30 AM to 12:15 PM. This session will address the importance of raising awareness about hepatitis, prioritising early diagnosis and treatment, exploring elimination strategies, promoting innovation in diagnosis and care, engaging communities, and addressing the challenges faced by vulnerable populations. The session will be moderated by Dr. Harsh Vardhan Tevethia, Associate Professor, Department of Hepatology, ILBS, New Delhi. A special address and presentation will be given by Dr. Shilpa Tomar, Scientist C, Hepatitis Group, ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. The expert panel will include Dr. Sanjay Chaurey (PSRI Hospital), Dr. Manik Sharma (Max Hospital, NOIDA), Dr. N. K. Soni (Yatharth Super Specialty Hospital, Greater Noida), and Dr. Sakshi Karkra (Artemis Hospital).

Session II, titled “Management of Hepatitis in Pregnancy (Pre – During – Post)”, will follow from 12:15 PM to 1:00 PM. This session will focus on raising awareness among women, screening and risk assessment, the importance of screening during pregnancy, neonatal care and vaccination, and maternal-child health. The session will be moderated by Dr. Nidhi Jain, Senior Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Artemis Hospital. The panellists will include Dr. Kamna Dutta (ABVIMS & Dr. RML Hospital), Dr. Uma Mishra (Motherhood Hospital, Noida), Dr. Meenakshi Ahuja (Fortis La Femme, GK), Dr. Neha Mohit Bhagwati (Holy Family Hospital), and Dr. Charu Yadav (Felix Hospital).

The conference will conclude with a Networking Lunch, starting from 1:00 PM onwards, offering attendees an opportunity to connect, share experiences, and discuss collaborative strategies for hepatitis prevention and control.