Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh addressed the 3rd Anniversary of the Liver & Metabolic Disease Network (InFLiMeN) at the Institute of Liver & Biliary Sciences, highlighting India's growing public health challenges. The Minister stated that India's liver epidemic and sharp rise in Type-2 diabetes are part of a larger metabolic nexus, with disorders including fatty liver, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance being closely interconnected and predisposing one another.
A significant concern raised was the changing epidemiology of metabolic diseases, with conditions previously associated with middle-aged and elderly populations now appearing at much younger ages, including among younger adults and adolescents. This trend makes the challenge more than a medical issue and requires a mission-mode national response driven by preventive healthcare and mass public awareness, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis on tackling obesity and lifestyle-related diseases.
The Liver & Metabolic Disease Network (InFLiMeN), supported by the Department of Science & Technology (DST), aims to strengthen collaborative research, innovation, early diagnosis and evidence-based policy interventions to combat the growing burden of liver and metabolic diseases in India. The network represents a landmark national platform bringing together scientific institutions, clinicians and researchers.
Dr. Singh emphasized India's unique metabolic profile, noting the country's genetic predisposition, higher prevalence of central obesity, and distinct Indian phenotype that make the population particularly vulnerable to diabetes, fatty liver and cardiovascular diseases, often even among individuals with relatively lower Body Mass Index (BMI). These characteristics necessitate Indian data, research and solutions rather than relying solely on evidence generated elsewhere.
The Minister identified multiple stress factors affecting liver health, including unhealthy dietary habits, lifestyle factors, inappropriate sleep patterns, stressful behavior, and environmental pollution. He welcomed ILBS' efforts in creating a National Liver Biobank and stressed the importance of developing affordable early diagnostic technologies, community-level screening tools and indigenous biomarkers capable of identifying liver disease before irreversible damage occurs.
Scientific opportunities highlighted include India's expanding biotechnology ecosystem, Genome Mission and large-scale gene sequencing programme that offer unprecedented opportunities to understand India's unique disease patterns. Advances in biotechnology, genomics and Artificial Intelligence were noted as paving the way for precision medicine enabling treatments tailored to individual genetic profiles, lifestyle and environmental exposure.
The Minister called for greater synergy across scientific institutions and emphasized that scientific progress must be accompanied by widespread public awareness and behavioral change. He urged medical professionals, researchers, educational institutions, civil society organizations and media to work together in promoting scientifically validated health practices and countering misinformation relating to nutrition, obesity and lifestyle diseases.
Emphasizing that a healthy population is fundamental to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, Dr. Singh stated that reducing India's burden of diabetes and fatty liver disease is essential for preserving the productivity, aspirations and potential of the country's young population, which would strengthen both public health and national development.