Towards elimination of viral hepatitis in Taiwan by 2025: In memory of Professor Ding-Shinn Chen (1943–2020)

摘要

Global elimination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) by 2030 as set by the World Health Organization (WHO) is an ambitious task with huge amount of work. To reach this goal, we need reliable diagnostic assays and available cost-effective actions. These actions include the implementation of universal HBV vaccination and antiviral therapy for highly viremic HBV mothers during their third trimester to prevent mother-to-child transmission (MTCT); screening blood donor for both HBV and HCV; safe injec- tion; strict infection control to reduce the burden of HBV and HCV infections; and antiviral therapy for those in need. In 2017, the WHO conducted a survey in 194 Member States and 135 (70%) responded as follows: 84 (62%) had a national plan, of which, 49 (58%) had dedicated funding, and 62 (46%) had engaged with civil societies; those worked with civil societies were more likely to secure a funded plan than others. Therefore, Member States need to finance these national strategies and ensure that viral hepatitis patients have access to hepatitis services as part of efforts to ach- ieve universal health coverage. 1 An investigation on high- income countries showed that even with the introduction of safe and effective HCV regimens, 80% of these countries were not on track to meet HCV elimination goals by 2030. 2 Taken together, immediate actions to improve HCV screening and treatment are thus needed to make HCV elimination possible.