The Global Burden of Hepatitis
Viral hepatitis remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, claiming over 1.3 million lives annually, comparable to HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. More than 354 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B or C, most of whom are unaware of their infection. Unlike other high-profile diseases, hepatitis often progresses silently, with symptoms only appearing when liver damage is advanced. This makes early detection and diagnosis critical yet largely neglected in many regions of the world.
The Inequity Gap: Disparities in Hepatitis Diagnosis and Awareness
High-income countries (HICs) have widely accessible hepatitis screening and advanced diagnostics, often integrated into primary care, antenatal, and substance use programs, enabling early detection and intervention. In contrast, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face major diagnostic gaps; only 10% of people with hepatitis B and 21% with hepatitis C globally are aware of their status, with even lower rates in LMICs due to limited awareness and underdeveloped diagnostic infrastructure. Treatment access mirrors this disparity. HICs provide broad access to hepatitis B antivirals and curative hepatitis C therapies through public health systems, while LMICs struggle with high costs, limited healthcare capacity, and fragmented service delivery.
National Hepatitis Elimination Plans (NHEPs) are essential strategic frameworks that translate the World Health Organization’s global targets into country-level action. These plans typically include surveillance and epidemiological mapping, equitable access to vaccination, diagnostics, and treatment, public awareness campaigns, workforce training, and sustainable financing mechanisms. Despite their critical role, implementation remains uneven—fewer than half of WHO Member States have fully developed and funded NHEPs, and many existing plans suffer from fragmentation, limited resources, or weak integration into broader health systems, undermining progress toward hepatitis elimination.
Global Call to Action: The WHO’s 2030 Elimination Targets
To achieve hepatitis elimination by 2030, countries must urgently adopt, fund, and implement comprehensive national hepatitis strategies. The World Health Organization’s Global Health Sector Strategy (GHSS) sets clear targets: a 90% reduction in new infections, a 65% reduction in hepatitis-related mortality, diagnosis of 90% of infected individuals, and treatment for 80% of those eligible. Realizing these goals will require sustained leadership, robust financing, international collaboration, and effective execution of national plans—particularly in high-burden regions.
Global Health Leadership: Advancing Coordinated Action Against Hepatitis
Tackling the global burden of viral hepatitis requires decisive leadership and sustained engagement from international health actors. To accelerate progress, global partners must prioritize expanding hepatitis A and B immunization, scaling up affordable diagnostics, and ensuring equitable access to curative antiviral therapies, particularly for hepatitis C. Strengthening health systems through workforce training, integrated primary care services, and robust surveillance mechanisms is essential to overcome persistent gaps. In addition, global health institutions should invest in implementation research, support country-led strategic planning, and facilitate access to low-cost, quality-assured medicines. By aligning technical, financial, and policy support with the WHO’s 2030 targets, the international community can move beyond advocacy to transformative, measurable impact.
Recommendations
Global health stakeholders should focus on: (1) increasing vaccine coverage for hepatitis A and B; (2) expanding access to affordable diagnostics and antiviral treatment; (3) integrating hepatitis services within universal health coverage frameworks; and (4) investing in research, surveillance, and cross-sectoral partnerships. These actions are vital to achieving equitable and sustainable hepatitis control and eventual elimination.
Conclusion
Eliminating viral hepatitis demands sustained engagement from all stakeholders, governments, healthcare systems, researchers, and affected communities. This global health challenge cannot be addressed in isolation. By aligning efforts, investing in scalable and equitable solutions, and addressing systemic barriers, we can close critical gaps in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Strengthening surveillance, expanding vaccination, and ensuring universal access to affordable testing and antiviral therapies are essential to making elimination a reality. Advancing this agenda directly contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 3, ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. The tools and knowledge exist; what’s needed now is coordinated, inclusive, and persistent action. The path to hepatitis elimination is clear—let’s walk it together!
Written by ISID Emerging Leader, Fatima Aziz.
Fatima Aziz is a genomic epidemiologist at Aga Khan University. Her work focuses on infectious disease surveillance and strengthening health systems. As the ISID Emerging Leader’s Chair, she contributes to global health initiatives through research, capacity building, and policy engagement.