BBC News

England set to be one of the first countries to eliminate hepatitis C

The Hepatitis C Trust

NHS England announces that 100,000 people have received hepatitis C treatment

NHS England

100,000 people receive treatment to cure deadly hep C virus on NHS in just ten years

The Pharmacist

England on track to eliminate hepatitis C

Pharmaphorum

England close to eliminating hep C thanks to treatment drive

Independent

England on the cusp of eliminating hepatitis C, health officials say

sharrond62

Commonslibrary

Cbp 10081

NHSuk

NHSEngland

Hepatitis C Trust reacts to new data on hepatitis C in England

According to the National Health Service (NHS) on Tuesday, England has surpassed the World Health Organization's benchmark of treating 80% of all known hepatitis C cases and is on track to become one of the first countries to eliminate the virus, with deaths falling 36% over the past decade.

According to the National Health Service (NHS) on Tuesday, England has surpassed the World Health Organization's benchmark of treating 80% of all known hepatitis C cases and is on track to become one of the first countries to eliminate the virus, with deaths falling 36% over the past decade.

More than 100,000 people in England have been diagnosed and treated for hepatitis C since 2015, following the rollout of antiviral drugs made available through a 2019 NHS deal with pharmaceutical companies Gilead Sciences, MSD and AbbVie.

More than 100,000 people in England have been diagnosed and treated for hepatitis C since 2015, following the rollout of antiviral drugs made available through a 2019 NHS deal with pharmaceutical companies Gilead Sciences, MSD and AbbVie.

Treatment for hepatitis C involves a free course of antiviral tablets taken over 8 to 12 weeks, which is said to cure more than 95% of cases. Effective treatment is also estimated to reduce the number of people needing liver transplants by 80% over the next decade.

Treatment for hepatitis C involves a free course of antiviral tablets taken over 8 to 12 weeks, which is said to cure more than 95% of cases. Effective treatment is also estimated to reduce the number of people needing liver transplants by 80% over the next decade.

Around 50,200 adults were living with hepatitis C in England as of 2024, while an estimated 84.6% of those with the virus have been diagnosed — just short of the 90% WHO target. A separate WHO goal of reducing hepatitis C mortality by 65% since 2015 has also not yet been met.

Around 50,200 adults were living with hepatitis C in England as of 2024, while an estimated 84.6% of those with the virus have been diagnosed — just short of the 90% WHO target. A separate WHO goal of reducing hepatitis C mortality by 65% since 2015 has also not yet been met.

NHS England has expanded testing through A&E blood tests, GP registration screening and a free home-testing portal, the latter of which has operated for more than three years and found 1,900 previously undiagnosed cases since 2022.

NHS England has expanded testing through A&E blood tests, GP registration screening and a free home-testing portal, the latter of which has operated for more than three years and found 1,900 previously undiagnosed cases since 2022.

BBC News #

The Hepatitis C Trust #

NHS England #

The Pharmacist #

Pharmaphorum #

Independent #

Commonslibrary #

England has surpassed the World Health Organization's benchmark of treating 80% of all known hepatitis C cases and is on track to become one of the first countries to eliminate the virus, with deaths falling 36% over the past decade.

England has surpassed the World Health Organization's benchmark of treating 80% of all known hepatitis C cases and is on track to become one of the first countries to eliminate the virus, with deaths falling 36% over the past decade.

Treatment for hepatitis C involves a free course of antiviral tablets taken over 8 to 12 weeks, which cures more than 95% of cases. Effective treatment is also estimated to reduce the number of people needing liver transplants by 80% over the next decade.

Treatment for hepatitis C involves a free course of antiviral tablets taken over 8 to 12 weeks, which cures more than 95% of cases. Effective treatment is also estimated to reduce the number of people needing liver transplants by 80% over the next decade.

The Hepatitis C Trust's CEO Rachel Halford said England is "on the cusp" of a major public health achievement, stressing that "continued commitment and long-term investment are essential" to sustain progress, particularly for marginalised communities facing barriers to health care.

The Hepatitis C Trust's CEO Rachel Halford said England is "on the cusp" of a major public health achievement, stressing that "continued commitment and long-term investment are essential" to sustain progress, particularly for marginalised communities facing barriers to health care.

England's NHS has pulled off something remarkable — treating over 100,000 people for hepatitis C in a decade and slashing deaths by 36%. Antiviral drugs now cure more than 95% of cases in just 8 to 12 weeks, and England has already blown past the WHO's 80% treatment benchmark. This is what smart, prevention-first health care looks like, and the rest of the world should be taking notes.

England's NHS has pulled off something remarkable — treating over 100,000 people for hepatitis C in a decade and slashing deaths by 36%. Antiviral drugs now cure more than 95% of cases in just 8 to 12 weeks, and England has already blown past the WHO's 80% treatment benchmark. This is what smart, prevention-first health care looks like, and the rest of the world should be taking notes.

England's hepatitis C progress didn't happen in a vacuum — it grew directly from the contaminated blood scandal that infected thousands with HIV and hepatitis in the 1970s and 1980s. Real accountability means implementing the Infected Blood Inquiry's recommendations in full, not just in principle. Eliminating the virus means nothing if the patients harmed by NHS failures still lack full recognition, compensation and lasting safety reforms.

England's hepatitis C progress didn't happen in a vacuum — it grew directly from the contaminated blood scandal that infected thousands with HIV and hepatitis in the 1970s and 1980s. Real accountability means implementing the Infected Blood Inquiry's recommendations in full, not just in principle. Eliminating the virus means nothing if the patients harmed by NHS failures still lack full recognition, compensation and lasting safety reforms.

Everything Is Tuberculosis

England Near Eliminating Hepatitis C, Deaths Drop 36%

England Near Eliminating Hepatitis C, Deaths Drop 36%

Infectious diseases

Medicine & healthcare

United Kingdom

England is now on the cusp of eliminating hepatitis C, leading the world in the fight against a once life-threatening disease. More than 100,000 people have received curative treatment in a decade, pushing England past the WHO's 80% treatment benchmark while deaths have fallen 36%. With treatment curing more than 95% of cases, England is on track to beat the WHO's 2030 target and become one of the first countries to eliminate the virus.

England is now on the cusp of eliminating hepatitis C, leading the world in the fight against a once life-threatening disease. More than 100,000 people have received curative treatment in a decade, pushing England past the WHO's 80% treatment benchmark while deaths have fallen 36%. With treatment curing more than 95% of cases, England is on track to beat the WHO's 2030 target and become one of the first countries to eliminate the virus.

England's progress against hepatitis C is real, but declaring victory now risks undermining the work still required to finish the job. Diagnosis remains below the WHO's 90% target, while infection rates and needle-and-syringe provision also fall short of elimination benchmarks. Sustaining this momentum will require continued investment, testing and targeted support for the marginalized communities still facing barriers to care.

England's progress against hepatitis C is real, but declaring victory now risks undermining the work still required to finish the job. Diagnosis remains below the WHO's 90% target, while infection rates and needle-and-syringe provision also fall short of elimination benchmarks. Sustaining this momentum will require continued investment, testing and targeted support for the marginalized communities still facing barriers to care.

UK: England Near Eliminating Hepatitis C, Deaths Drop 36%

UK: England Near Eliminating Hepatitis C, Deaths Drop 36%

The Spin

Go Deeper

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters

UK: England Near Eliminating Hepatitis C, Deaths Drop 36%

UK: England Near Eliminating Hepatitis C, Deaths Drop 36%

The Spin

Go Deeper

Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters

Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up for Our Free Newsletters