World Hepatitis Day aims to remove barriers to care

The World Health Organization (WHO) is marking World Hepatitis Day on July 28, 2026, with a call to dismantle barriers that hinder access to hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment, and care services. This year's theme, “Hepatitis: Let’s break it down,” emphasizes the need for action to eliminate the viral disease as a public health threat by 2030.

In the Western Pacific Region, over 100 million people live with hepatitis B or C, representing more than one-third of the global burden. However, many remain unaware of their status, and those diagnosed often face obstacles to care, including low awareness, limited access to services, and high medication costs. The WHO urges countries, partners, and communities to expand access to hepatitis B and C testing and make treatment and care more accessible and affordable.

According to the WHO, the necessary tools, including vaccines, diagnostics, and curative treatment for hepatitis C, are already available. The challenge lies in ensuring these tools reach everyone in need. The region has made significant progress in hepatitis B vaccination, but sustaining and expanding these advances is crucial to protect every newborn.

The WHO is also hosting a regional webinar titled “Accelerating hepatitis elimination in Asia and the Pacific: Action for everyone, everywhere, right now.” This webinar will convene countries from Asia and the Pacific to share experiences and lessons learned in combating the viral disease, aiming to accelerate efforts toward eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.