England quietly crossed a remarkable public health threshold this week. According to new figures from the National Health Service, England has already met the World Health Organization's target of treating at least 80 percent of all known hepatitis C cases by 2030 — four years ahead of schedule.
The data shows that 100,000 people received potentially life-saving hepatitis C treatment in England over the past decade, positioning the country as one of the first nations to achieve this milestone. Rachel Halford, chief executive of The Hepatitis C Trust, described England as standing "on the cusp of one of the most significant public health achievements in its history."
A Disease That Hides — Until It Doesn't
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that targets the liver. The virus spreads primarily through blood-to-blood contact — most commonly through shared needles — and is unusual in that it often causes no symptoms for years or even decades. By the time a person feels sick, significant liver damage may already have occurred.
Without treatment, hepatitis C can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. It is estimated that over 70 million people are infected worldwide, though many do not know it.
The development of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in the early 2010s transformed the landscape. These medications can cure hepatitis C in over 95 percent of cases, typically through an eight-to-twelve-week oral course with few side effects. What was once a chronic, difficult-to-treat condition became, in effect, curable.
Finding the People Who Slipped Through
The achievement is especially significant given who it had to reach. Hepatitis C infection in England is concentrated among some of the most marginalised groups: people who have injected drugs, those who have experienced homelessness, former prisoners, and communities that have historically distrusted or been unable to access healthcare.
"Hepatitis C disproportionately affects some of the most marginalised and underserved communities in England — people who have too often faced stigma, exclusion, and barriers to healthcare," Halford said. "The programme has been instrumental in overcoming those barriers."
To reach these populations, England's elimination effort deployed healthcare where people actually are — in drug services, prisons, hostels, and via outreach vehicles that brought testing and treatment to those who might never walk into a GP surgery. The approach is widely credited with the programme's success.
A Blueprint for the UK and the World
The news extends beyond England. Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland are all on course to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030, the Hepatitis C Trust confirmed. That means the entire United Kingdom could achieve this milestone within the decade — a remarkable outcome for a country that struggled with rising hepatitis C rates in the 1990s and 2000s.
Globally, the World Health Organization has set a target of eliminating hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030 — defined as reducing new infections by 90 percent and deaths by 65 percent. England's early success offers a practical blueprint for other nations trying to close the gap.
Testing for hepatitis C requires only a simple blood test, and treatment is free on the NHS. For the tens of thousands in England who may still be living with undiagnosed hepatitis C, health advocates are urging anyone at risk to get tested now.
"One of the biggest lessons from this programme," said Halford, "is that if you meet people where they are — with no stigma and no barriers — they will come forward for care."
