New figures reveal that over 100,000 people in England have accessed potentially life-saving treatment for hepatitis C in the last decade. This is part of an NHS programme that began rolling out pioneering antiviral drugs in 2015.
Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect the liver and, if left untreated, may cause serious and potentially life-threatening liver damage. The treatment consists of a free course of antiviral tablets, typically lasting 8 to 12 weeks, which cures more than 95% of cases.
The NHS is encouraging individuals at higher risk of undiagnosed hepatitis C to order a free and confidential home-testing kit online. This includes those who have moved to England from certain Eastern European countries, individuals who have had a tattoo abroad, or those who use or have previously used injectable drugs.
Professor Frankie Swords, NHS national medical director, stated that England is leading global efforts to eliminate the disease and is on track to surpass the WHO's 2030 target. The treatment drive has been supported by a landmark deal struck by the NHS in 2019 with pharmaceutical companies Gilead Sciences, MSD, and AbbVie.