England is positioned to become one of the first countries worldwide to eliminate hepatitis C, a virus that can cause significant liver damage if left untreated. Official figures show that more than 100,000 individuals have been diagnosed and treated for the condition since 2015, meeting a key World Health Organization (WHO) target.
While England is already meeting the target for treatment numbers, a related goal of reducing hepatitis C-related mortality by 65% compared to 2015 levels is still being pursued, with expectations to meet it before the 2030 deadline. Current estimates from 2024 suggest that approximately 50,200 adults are living with hepatitis C in England, and 84.6% of these have been diagnosed, falling just short of the 90% diagnostic target.
The Hepatitis C Trust has described England as being "on the cusp" of a major public health achievement. NHS national medical director Prof Frankie Swords stated that England is leading the global effort to eliminate the disease and is on course to surpass the WHO's 2030 target. The NHS remains committed to identifying and treating all individuals requiring support and encourages those at higher risk to seek confidential home-testing kits.
Hepatitis C is transmitted through contact with infected blood, often via the sharing of needles. Donor blood is routinely screened for the virus. The disease is often asymptomatic in its early stages, with symptoms only appearing when significant liver damage has occurred.
Certain populations are particularly encouraged to test, including adults who were born in Ukraine, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Albania, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Czechia, or Slovakia, as they may have been exposed through medical or dental procedures prior to 1991. Free and confidential self-testing kits can be ordered online without the need for a GP consultation.