UK on track to become first country in the world to eliminate Hepatitis C
England is on track to become the very first country to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2025 thanks to a pioneering drug deal.
Deaths from the virus, including liver disease and cancer, have fallen by 35% since the NHS struck a five-year contract worth almost £1 billion to buy antiviral drugs.
In comparison, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had set a target of just 10%.
‘Find And Treat’ programmes have also helped the NHS drive down the number of cases among vulnerable communities such as the homeless.
Those living on the street may suffer worse outcomes as they do not have regular contact with health services.
St Mungo’s is one of the charities behind the outreach programmes, which aim to ensure no one is left behind.
Sara Hide, a Hepatitis C coordinator at St Mungo’s in Oxford, said: ‘With treatment for Hepatitis C now less invasive – a course of medication for eight to 12 weeks – we have seen an uptake in people responding to our screening services.
‘We also screen for other conditions at the same time to identify clients that might need extra health support.’
As part of the fight to help those most vulnerable, specialist teams provide same-day screenings along with help to complete a full course of treatment.
Substance use, sharing toothbrushes and razors, and other factors associated with sleeping rough are among a range of reasons putting the homeless at a higher risk of contracting the virus.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis stressed the NHS is ‘leading the world’ in the drive to save lives and eliminate Hepatitis C.
The NHS England’s national medical director said: ‘Thanks to targeted screening and because the NHS has a proven track record of striking medicine agreements that give patients access to the latest drugs, we are on track to beat global targets and become the first country to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2030 – which will be a landmark achievement.’
What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus which, if left untreated, can cause liver cancer and liver failure.
It usually displays no symptoms until the virus causes enough damage to bring on liver disease.
Symptoms may include fatigue and difficulty concentrating and the virus is also linked to cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, kidney disease and musculoskeletal pain.
The project has helped find and cure 70,000 people of the potentially fatal disease and reduced the number of people seeking liver transplants due to the virus.
Within six years, the number of people seeking liver transplants due to the virus fell by two-thirds.
The number of annual registrations for a liver transplant in patients with Hepatitis C-related diseases also dropped from fewer than 140 per year to fewer than 50 per year in 2020.
The project has also provided 80% of its treatments to people from communities in the poorest half of the population.
An NHS screening programme launched in September is enabling thousands of people unknowingly living with Hepatitis C to get a diagnosis and treatment sooner by searching health records for key risk factors, such as historic blood transfusions or those with HIV.
Hepatitis C Trust chief executive Rachel Halford said the charity is ‘delighted to be a part of this unique elimination deal’ to help find, test and treat people most at risk of contracting hepatitis C.
She said: ‘The progress that has been made towards elimination is truly astounding.
‘We now need a final concerted effort to make sure we reach all those that may be affected and reach elimination.
‘Investment in a national campaign to improve public awareness of hepatitis C to reduce stigma and encourage people who may have been at risk to get tested is paramount.’
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