Viral hepatitis has become the second-leading infectious cause of death globally. According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) 2024 Global Hepatitis Report, 1.3 million people have died in 2022 the same as tuberculosis, a top infectious killer.
The WHO data reveals that the estimated number of deaths from viral hepatitis increased from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022. Of these, 83 percent were caused by hepatitis B, and 17% by hepatitis C. Every day, 3500 people are dying globally due to hepatitis B and C infections.
“This report paints a troubling picture: despite progress globally in preventing hepatitis infections, deaths are rising because far too few people with hepatitis are being diagnosed and treated,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement. “WHO is committed to supporting countries to use all the tools at their disposal – at access prices – to save lives and turn this trend around.”
According to the latest estimates by the global health agency, 254 million people live with hepatitis B and 50 million with hepatitis C in 2022. Half the burden of chronic hepatitis B and C infections is among people 30–54 years old, with 12% among children under 18 years of age. Men account for 58 percent of all cases.
Although there is a slight decrease in new incidences as compared to 2019, the overall incidence of viral hepatitis remains high. In 2022, there were 2.2 million new infections, down from 2.5 million in 2019.
These include 1.2 million new hepatitis B infections and nearly 1 million new hepatitis C infections. More than 6000 people are getting newly infected with viral hepatitis each day.
The report also revealed that Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Russian Federation and Viet Nam, collectively shoulder nearly two-thirds of the global burden of hepatitis B and C.
It is noteworthy that despite the availability of affordable generic viral hepatitis medicines, many countries fail to procure them at these lower prices, the health body revealed in its report.
“Pricing disparities persist both across and within WHO regions, with many countries paying above global benchmarks, even for off-patent drugs or when included in voluntary licensing agreements. For example, although tenofovir for treatment of hepatitis B is off patent and available at a global benchmark price of US$2.4 per month, only 7 of the 26 reporting countries paid prices at or below the benchmark,” WHO stated.
Similarly, a 12-week course of pangenotypic sofosbuvir/daclatasvir to treat hepatitis C is available at a global benchmark price of US$60, yet only 4 of 24 reporting countries paid prices at or below the benchmark, it added.
Service delivery remains centralized and vertical, and many affected populations still face out-of-pocket expenses for viral hepatitis services, the UN Health body highlighted.
Only 60 percent of reporting countries offer viral hepatitis testing and treatment services free of charge, either entirely or partially, in the public sector. Financial protection is lower in the African Region, where only about one third of reporting countries provide these services free of charge, it added.
Meanwhile, WHO also revealed that the funding for viral hepatitis both at a global level or within dedicated country health budgets, is not sufficient to meet the needs.
“This arises from a combination of factors, including limited awareness of cost-saving interventions and tools, as well as competing priorities in global health agendas. This report seeks to shed light on strategies for countries to address these inequities and access the tools at the most affordable prices available,” the it stated.
Moreover, the report outlines a series of actions to advance a public health approach to viral hepatitis, designed to accelerate progress towards ending the epidemic by 2030.
“…expanding access to testing and diagnostics; shifting from policies to implementation for equitable treatment; strengthening primary care prevention efforts; simplifying service delivery, optimizing product regulation and supply; developing investment cases in priority countries; mobilizing innovative financing; using improved data for action; and engaging affected communities and civil society and advancing research for improved diagnostics and potential cures for hepatitis B,” WHO said.
