Taiwan accelerates its efforts to eliminate hepatitis C.

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects 3.3% of Taiwan's general population, with significant regional variations.
• An estimated 623,323 individuals in Taiwan are anti-HCV reactive.
• Taiwan is committed to the WHO's 2030 goal of eliminating hepatitis C, aiming to treat 80% of eligible patients by 2025.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline Taiwan's comprehensive strategy for hepatitis C elimination.
• To highlight key initiatives and success factors in the National Hepatitis C Program (NHCP).
• To emphasize the need for scaled-up screening and precision public health approaches.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of aggressive measures by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW).
• Strengthening National Health Insurance (NHI) coverage for treatment.
• National screening programs and harm reduction initiatives by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Health Promotion Administration (HPA).
• NHCP's focus on monitoring, evaluation, micro-elimination, and linkage to care.

Main Results:

• Significant political commitment and financial investment in the national hepatitis C program.
• Improved reimbursement policies and expanded screening coverage.
• Ongoing efforts to link diagnosed individuals to care and treatment.

Conclusions:

• Taiwan's multi-faceted approach demonstrates strong political will towards hepatitis C elimination.
• Sustainable financing and precision public health are vital for overcoming under-diagnosis.
• Achieving the target of treating 250,000 chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients by 2025 is a key objective for early elimination.