The World is Falling Behind in the Fight Against Hepatitis C – But There’s Still Hope.
Despite ambitious goals set by the World Health Organization (WHO) to eliminate hepatitis C (HCV) by 2030, new research reveals a stark reality: progress is uneven, and many countries are struggling to meet targets. But here’s where it gets controversial: while some nations are making strides, others are lagging far behind, raising questions about global equity in healthcare access.
Presented at the 2025 Liver Meeting by Zoe Ching, a Data Dashboard Intern at the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, the study analyzed data from 167 countries, painting a detailed picture of the global HCV landscape. The WHO’s Path to Elimination (PTE) framework, with its bronze, silver, and gold tiers, serves as a roadmap for countries to achieve HCV incidence below 5 new infections per 100,000 people and mortality below 2 per 100,000.
Think about it: an estimated 50 million people worldwide live with HCV, with 6,000 new infections occurring daily. That’s why WHO declared HCV a global health threat in 2015, setting these ambitious targets. The PTE framework focuses on three key areas: diagnosis, treatment, and harm reduction through needle/syringe distribution for people who inject drugs.
And this is the part most people miss: even countries with robust healthcare systems are struggling to reach gold status, highlighting the complexity of HCV elimination.
The study found that only 15% of countries are on track to meet the 2030 mortality target, and a mere 14% are projected to achieve the incidence goal. Interestingly, six of the ten countries meeting both targets are in the Americas, including Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru.
Progress towards PTE tiers varies widely. While 39% of countries meet the bronze tier for needle/syringe distribution, only 12% achieve bronze for diagnosis, and a concerning 17% for treatment. This disparity underscores the need for targeted interventions in diagnosis and treatment access.
The United States, for example, demonstrates a treatment coverage of 43% and bronze-tier diagnosis coverage of 68%, revealing areas for improvement. Countries like Egypt and Norway have achieved gold status for treatment, while Australia, Georgia, and Spain have reached silver. Alarmingly, no countries in the Southeast Asia Region have reached even bronze-tier thresholds.
Is this a failure of global solidarity, or are there deeper systemic issues at play?
The study’s authors emphasize that while provisional data shows progress, challenges remain. They urge countries like the US to commit more resources to expanding needle/syringe services, improving access to HCV treatment, and scaling up screening programs.
This research serves as a crucial wake-up call. Eliminating HCV by 2030 is achievable, but it requires a concerted global effort, addressing disparities in access to diagnostics, treatment, and harm reduction services. What do you think? Are the WHO’s targets realistic? What more needs to be done to ensure equitable access to HCV care worldwide? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments.
For more updates from The Liver Meeting 2025, visit https://www.eatg.org/hiv-news/highlights-from-the-liver-meeting-2025/