Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 14: In a country witnessing a sharp rise in lifestyle diseases, experts say a simple and affordable liver screening test could help prevent life-threatening complications and massive medical expenses.

At the centre of this is the Liver Function Test, which costs less than Rs 500 and can detect early signs of liver damage well before symptoms appear. According to studies published in Clinical Liver Disease, India accounts for over 18% of global liver disease deaths, driven by factors such as alcohol consumption, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and viral hepatitis.

Doctors warn that liver disease often goes unnoticed until it reaches an advanced stage. Symptoms like jaundice, fluid accumulation and internal bleeding usually indicate severe damage such as cirrhosis or liver failure.

By this stage, treatment becomes complex and expensive. Liver transplant procedures in India can cost between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 35 lakh, excluding ICU care, medicines and long-term follow-up expenses.

Experts note that while alcohol-related liver disease remains a concern, conditions like Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are rapidly increasing due to sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets and obesity. Hepatitis B and C infections also continue to contribute to the disease burden.

Alarmingly, fatty liver is linked not only to liver complications but also to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Given the silent progression of liver disease, doctors recommend regular screening:

• At least once a year for most adults

• More frequently for those with risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, high alcohol intake or abnormal cholesterol

Early detection allows for lifestyle changes and timely treatment, making many liver conditions reversible.

Experts highlight the stark contrast in costs — a Rs 500 screening test versus treatment expenses running into lakhs. Early diagnosis can help avoid hospitalisation and major interventions like transplants.

Healthcare professionals are now urging insurers to include routine liver screening in health plans. They say this would encourage early diagnosis, reduce long-term healthcare costs and improve overall public health outcomes.

With liver disease often developing silently, experts emphasise that a simple annual test could make a significant difference — both medically and financially.