Hepatitis C should be eradicated in England in THREE YEARS: the nation is in pole position to eliminate the virus which can lead to cancer and liver disease
- NHS set to eliminate virus by 2025 – five years ahead of global targets
- Deaths have fallen by 35% in six years, far exceeding the WHO’s 10% target
- England set to be the first country in the world to declare itself free of the virus
Hepatitis C could be eradicated within two years thanks to a campaign to find and treat those most at risk.
the NHS is on track to eliminate the virus by 2025, five years ahead of global targets.
Deaths have fallen by 35% in six years, far exceeding the World Health Organizationthe 10 percent target.
This puts England in pole position to be the first country in the world to declare itself free of the virus, which can lead to liver disease and cancer.
Hepatitis C (pictured) could be eradicated within two years thanks to a campaign to find and treat those most at risk. NHS set to eliminate virus by 2025 – five years ahead of global targets
The progress comes after a five-year deal worth nearly £1billion to buy antiviral drugs, which have a 95% cure rate.
Dedicated “Find and Treat” programs have also helped the NHS reduce cases of hepatitis C among vulnerable communities such as the homeless.
So far, some 70,000 patients have been treated for the disease under the program, which has also greatly reduced the need for liver transplants.
Rachel Halford, of the Hepatitis C Trust, called the progress made “truly amazing”.
She said: “We now need a last concerted effort to ensure we reach everyone who may be affected and achieve elimination.”
Health chiefs have said the number of liver transplant requests due to the virus has fallen from around 140 a year to less than 50 in 2020.
People in the poorest communities benefited the most, with 80% of treatment provided to the poorest half of the population.
This includes children born with the infection, with more than 100 children receiving anti-infective antivirals in the past year alone.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, said the NHS is ‘leading the world’ in the drive to save lives and eliminate hepatitis C while tackling ‘significant’ inequality in matter of health.
He said: “Thanks for targeted testing and because the NHS has a proven track record of delivering medical deals that give patients access to the latest medicines, we are on track to beat global targets and become the first country to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030 – which will be a historic achievement.
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that, if left untreated, can cause liver cancer and liver failure.
It usually has no symptoms until the virus causes enough damage to cause liver disease.
Symptoms can include fatigue and difficulty concentrating and the virus is also linked to cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, kidney disease and musculoskeletal pain.
With homeless people at greater risk, the NHS has worked with charities, including St Mungos, to trace and treat those vulnerable to the disease.
Teams of specialists provided same-day screenings as well as assistance in completing full treatment.
Substance use, sharing toothbrushes, razors and other general lifestyle factors associated with rough sleeping are among a range of reasons that put homeless people at risk higher risk of contracting hepatitis C.
Sara Hide, from St Mungo’s in Oxford, said: ‘With hepatitis C treatment now less invasive – drug treatment for 8 to 12 weeks – we have seen an increase in the number of people responding to our testing services. We also screen for other conditions at the same time to identify clients who may need additional health support.
Health Minister Lord Markham said: “I am grateful to NHS staff and our partner charities like St Mungo’s for the fantastic progress that has been made so far. Deaths and prevalence of the virus have steadily declined thanks to improved diagnosis and access to treatment.
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