Viral hepatitis continues to have a severe impact on global health, with an estimated 1.3 million people dying each year – a figure comparable to the deadly form of tuberculosis, according to the latest revelations from the World Health Organization's 2024 Global Hepatitis Report. The report, released at the World Hepatitis Summit, reported an increase in deaths from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022, highlighting the severity of this global health threat.
The World Health Organization's 2024 Global Hepatitis Report reveals a growing hepatitis epidemic
The report, presented at the World Hepatitis Summit, shows that despite improvements in diagnostic and treatment techniques and reduced costs, there has been no progress in detection and treatment rates. Despite this, WHO remains optimistic that its 2030 elimination target is still achievable if immediate measures are taken.
Data from 187 countries show that between 2019 and 2022, the number of deaths caused by viral hepatitis rose from 1.1 million to 1.3 million. Of these, 83% were caused by hepatitis B and 17% by hepatitis C. Globally, about 3,500 people die every day from hepatitis B and C.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, expressed his concern: "This report paints a disturbing picture of the rising death toll as too many patients remain undiagnosed and untreated, despite international efforts to contain hepatitis infections. He affirmed WHO's commitment to helping countries use affordable resources to reverse this upward trend.
WHO now estimates that 254 million people will have hepatitis B and 50 million people will have hepatitis C in 2022. Chronic diseases mainly affect people between the ages of 30 and 54, with children under 18 accounting for 12% of cases. Men account for 58% of all infections.
The latest data suggest that there has been a slight decrease in new cases since 2019, but the overall infection rate of viral hepatitis remains very high. There were 2.2 million new cases in 2022, down from 2.5 million in 2019. This includes 1.2 million new hepatitis B infections and nearly 1 million new hepatitis C infections, with more than 6,000 people contracting the disease every day.
These updated estimates, which are based on improved national survey data, also show that prevention strategies such as vaccination and safer injection practices, as well as broader hepatitis C treatment, help reduce the rate of new infections.
Detection and treatment are stagnant
Despite advances in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies and becoming more accessible through cost reduction, global efforts to combat hepatitis B and C have stalled. While this stagnation threatens ambition to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030, it is achievable through accelerated efforts.
Despite significant progress in healthcare, the World Health Organization's 2024 report reveals global disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis. By the end of 2022, only 13% of patients with chronic hepatitis B had been diagnosed, while only 3% had received antiviral therapy. For hepatitis C, the diagnosis rate is 36% and the treatment rate is 20%.
These figures are well below WHO's 2030 target of treating 80% of people living with chronic hepatitis B and C. However, since 2019, there has been a slight but sustained improvement in diagnosis and treatment coverage. The diagnostic rate of hepatitis B increased from 10% to 13%, and the treatment rate increased from 2% to 3%. The diagnostic rate of hepatitis C increased from 21% to 36% and the treatment rate increased from 13% to 20%.
The impact of viral hepatitis varies significantly from region to region. The WHO African Region accounts for 63% of new hepatitis B infections, yet only 18% of newborns in the region receive the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine. The Asia-Pacific region accounts for 47% of global hepatitis B deaths, but only 23% of patients diagnosed receive treatment, which is too low to significantly reduce mortality.
China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia and Viet Nam together bear nearly two-thirds of the global burden of hepatitis. Therefore, it is essential for us to achieve universal access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment by 2025.
Price discrepancies and difficulty in obtaining medicines
The unequal price and distribution of services for hepatitis treatment remains a major global challenge. Although cost-effective generic drugs for viral hepatitis are widely available, many countries still struggle to obtain these drugs at lower prices.
There are significant differences in drug pricing in different regions of the World Health Organization (WHO). Many countries pay prices higher than the global benchmark price, even for drugs that have passed the term of patent protection or that are included in voluntary licensing agreements. For example, tenofovir, a drug used to treat hepatitis B, has expired patents and has a benchmark price of $2.4 per month, but it is sold at much higher prices in most regions.
The base price of a 12-week regimen for hepatitis C, the whole genotype sofebuvir and daclatasvir, is $60, but most patients cannot afford to buy it at a lower price.
| category | Tenofovir (TDF) | Entecavir (ETV) | 替诺福韦艾拉酚胺 (taf) | detail |
| WHO guidelines | Preferred for adults, adolescents and children | Consider using it in special cases | Indicated for specific cases | Widely applicable |
| List of essential medicines | Tablets: 300 mg | Liquid: 0.05 mg/ml, Tablets: 0.5 mg & 1 mg | Not included | Commonly used dosage forms |
| Pre-certified products | Multiple vendors | BrightGene | not | WHO certification |
| Prices (2023) | As$ 1.22 - As$ 1849.50/30片 | As$ 0.77 - As$ 143.70/30片 | As$ 1.34 - As$ 96/30片 | Public procurement |
| Benchmark Price (2023) | $2.40/30 tablets | $8.50/30 pieces, or $7.50/90 pieces | Unspecified | International benchmarks |
数据来源：Updated recommendations on prevention, diagnosis, care and treatment for people with chronic hepatitis B infection. Geneva: World Health Organization; in press.
Strategic action to accelerate the elimination of hepatitis is difficult to fund
The World Health Organization's report proposes a series of strategies aimed at accelerating the elimination of viral hepatitis. These strategies include scaling up testing and diagnostics, ensuring that treatment moves from policy development to implementation, and improving service delivery, such as streamlining service processes and optimizing product stewardship. In addition, the report highlights the importance of enhancing investment, mobilizing innovative financing modalities and using improved data to support decision-making. Healthcare financial disparities are a significant reason why patients struggle to get the most affordable prices for essential services and medications.
How can the average patient reduce the cost of treatment?
In the face of high drug treatment costs, participating in a clinical trial may be an option worth considering. Clinical trials not only provide patients with access to the latest treatments, but may also waive some or even all of the cost of treatment. At the same time, participating in clinical trials can use the most cutting-edge medical solutions and obtain better treatment opportunities.
Source: International Hepatobiliary Information