The Lancet Experts Weigh Whether Global Viral Hepatitis Elimination by 2030 Is Achievable

A Lancet expert discussion reviews prospects for eliminating viral hepatitis, which infects about 287 million people worldwide. Hepatitis B vaccination since the early 1980s has averted an estimated 22 million child deaths since 1990, and hepatitis C is now curable in about 95% of cases with 2 to 3 months of daily oral therapy costing under $200 in low- and middle-income countries, down sharply from earlier prices. The main barriers to the 2030 elimination goal are low testing and diagnosis rates, with only about 10% of hepatitis B patients diagnosed.