Amit Shah launches liver health drive, links wellness to national progress

New Delhi, Apr 19: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the HEALED scheme, a nationwide awareness campaign to promote liver health, on Saturday at an event organised by the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) on World Liver Day. “Among all organs, the liver has the greatest regenerative capacity. A healthy liver is the gateway to a healthy body,” Shah said, urging citizens to adopt a lifestyle focused on diet, exercise, hydration, and sleep.

Speaking at the event attended by Delhi Lt Governor V.K. Saxena and CM Rekha Gupta, Shah said, “Since May 2020, I have seen a transformation in my own life through simple health habits.

Young people can achieve a lot with discipline in these areas.” Shah also emphasised that India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 depends on the health of its people. “The idea of a developed India cannot exist if its citizens are unwell,” he said. Highlighting government achievements, he noted the health budget had increased from Rs 37,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 1.27 lakh crore today.

The number of AIIMS has risen from 7 to 23, medical colleges from 387 to 780, and MBBS seats have more than doubled. On public health outreach, Shah pointed to schemes like Ayushman Bharat, which provides Rs 5 lakh in health coverage, e-Sanjeevani, with over 30 crore digital consultations, and Jan Aushadhi Kendras, offering affordable medicines. Calling for corporate support through CSR and media engagement in spreading health awareness, Shah said: “Health is national wealth. The Modi government is ready to take care of the rest — just commit to a healthy lifestyle.”