New York: Europe and the Arabs
The World Health Organization reports that 3,500 people die every day from viral hepatitis and that the number is increasing. The disease is the second leading infectious cause of death in the world, claiming the lives of 1.3 million people annually, the same number of deaths caused by tuberculosis, which is one of the most deadly infectious diseases. According to what was stated in the daily news bulletin of the United Nations, a copy of which we received this morning
According to the World Hepatitis Report 2024 issued by the organization, despite the improvement in diagnostic and treatment tools, and the decline in product prices, there has been no increase in testing rates and treatment coverage. But reaching the WHO target of eliminating the disease by 2030 remains achievable, if rapid action is taken now.
New data from 187 countries show that the estimated number of deaths caused by viral hepatitis has risen from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022. Of these deaths, 83% are due to hepatitis B, and 17% are due to hepatitis C. Every day, 3,500 people die worldwide due to hepatitis B and C infection.
Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said: “The report paints an alarming picture: despite global progress in preventing hepatitis infection, deaths are rising because too few people with hepatitis are being diagnosed and treated.”
He stressed the organization's commitment to supporting countries in using all the tools at their disposal - at accessible prices - to save lives and change this trend.
The burden of viral hepatitis varies from region to region. The WHO African Region accounts for 63% of new hepatitis B infections, but despite this burden, only 18% of newborns in the Region receive a dose of hepatitis B vaccination at birth.
Although viral hepatitis medications are available at affordable prices, many countries are unable to purchase them at such low prices. Price differentials persist both across and within WHO regions, with many countries paying above global standards, even for medicines that are off-patent or when they are included in voluntary licensing agreements.
The WHO report sets out a series of actions to strengthen the response to viral hepatitis, to accelerate progress towards eliminating the epidemic by 2030. This includes expanding access to testing and diagnostics, strengthening prevention efforts, and shifting from policy to implementation for equitable treatment.