Can England eliminate hepatitis C before 2030? With more people treated and improved testing, the country is moving closer to eliminating the virus as a public health threat.
England is on the cusp of becoming one of the first countries in the world to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat, health officials have said, marking a major milestone in the fight against a disease that can remain hidden for years (1✔ ✔Trusted Source
Hepatitis C in England 2025
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The progress comes after a decade of expanded testing, targeted outreach and access to highly effective antiviral treatments. According to NHS England, more than 100,000 people have been diagnosed and treated for hepatitis C since the rollout of modern antiviral medicines in 2015 (2✔ ✔Trusted Source
100,000 people receive treatment to cure deadly hep C virus on NHS in just ten years
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Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral infection that primarily affects the liver. Many people can carry the virus without noticeable symptoms, allowing the infection to go undetected until serious complications develop. If untreated, it can lead to severe liver damage, liver failure and liver cancer.
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Treatment Has Transformed the Fight against Hepatitis C
One of the biggest changes in England’s approach has been the availability of short courses of antiviral tablets. Treatment lasts between eight and 12 weeks and cures more than 95% of cases, according to NHS England.
The NHS has also expanded efforts to identify people who may have the infection but do not know it. Testing initiatives have included blood tests in emergency departments, testing linked to GP registration and free confidential home-testing kits. These measures have helped health teams reach people who might otherwise remain undiagnosed.
NHS national medical director Professor Frankie Swords said the health service has worked with public health teams and charities to find and treat people with previously hidden infections. More than 100,000 people receiving treatment over the past decade, he said, represents significant progress toward eliminating the disease.
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How Has England Reduced Hepatitis C Deaths by 36%?
The impact is also reflected in hepatitis C-related mortality. NHS England says deaths from the virus have fallen by 36% over the past 10 years. England has also surpassed the World Health Organization benchmark of treating at least 80% of known hepatitis C cases, placing it among a small group of countries that have reached that level.
The achievement comes as global health leaders work toward the WHO’s goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. England is now on course to reach that target ahead of schedule, although officials stress that the final stage could prove challenging.
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The Final Challenge: Finding People Still Living With Hepatitis C
Despite the progress, health officials say the work is not finished. Because hepatitis C can remain symptomless for years, identifying people who have not yet been tested remains a key part of the elimination effort.
People considered at higher risk are being encouraged to use England’s free and confidential home-testing service. This includes people who have previously injected drugs, those who have had tattoos abroad and people who have moved to England from certain Eastern European countries.
The push to eliminate hepatitis C also carries particular significance in the UK because of the country’s contaminated blood scandal. The recently concluded Infected Blood Inquiry examined how more than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after receiving contaminated blood or blood products between the 1970s and early 1990s.
England’s Path Toward Hepatitis C Elimination
Rachel Halford, chief executive of The Hepatitis C Trust, described England’s progress as potentially one of the country’s most significant public health achievements. She also stressed that maintaining long-term investment and commitment will be essential to completing the elimination effort.
For England, the goal is no longer simply to reduce hepatitis C infections. With effective treatment available and testing becoming easier to access, health authorities are now focused on finding the remaining cases and preventing the virus from continuing to cause serious illness and deaths.
If that momentum is sustained, England could soon join the small number of countries to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat—years ahead of the global 2030 target.
References:
- Hepatitis C in England 2025 – (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hepatitis-c-in-england-and-the-uk/hepatitis-c-in-england-2025)
- 100,000 people receive treatment to cure deadly hep C virus on NHS in just ten years – (https://www.england.nhs.uk/2026/08/100000-people-receive-treatment-to-cure-deadly-hep-c-virus-on-nhs-in-just-ten-years/)
Source-Medindia