Delivering on the WHO Vision: Taiwan’s Path Toward Ending Hepatitis C as a Public Health Threat
Dr. Chung-Liang Shih
For decades, hepatitis C has posed a significant global public health challenge, with an estimated 58 million people living with chronic infection worldwide. While no vaccine is currently available, the disease is now curable through highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies, typically administered over 8–12 weeks. Recognizing this opportunity, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Glasgow Declaration on Viral Hepatitis in 2015, setting an ambitious target to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
Aligned with WHO guidance on country validation and elimination pathways, Taiwan has achieved the Gold Tier programmatic targets under the WHO Path to Elimination (PTE) framework for hepatitis C. This progress reflects strong political commitment and the strategic integration of prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment within a universal healthcare system.
Through Taiwan’s Adult Preventive Healthcare Services for hepatitis B and C, alongside the National Health Insurance program covering DAA treatment, screening and care have become widely accessible. These measures have significantly reduced financial and structural barriers. As of June 2025, approximately 90.2% of individuals with chronic hepatitis C have been diagnosed, and 92.6% of those diagnosed have received treatment—surpassing WHO Gold Tier benchmarks.
Prevention and patient safety remain central to Taiwan’s elimination strategy. The country maintains 100% screening of donated blood and ensures safe medical injection practices nationwide. Comprehensive harm reduction programs also provide widespread access to sterile injecting equipment for people who inject drugs, with more than 150 syringes distributed per person. These interventions are critical in preventing new infections and sustaining long-term progress.
In line with the WHO and Sustainable Development Goals’ principle of “Leave No One Behind,” Taiwan has prioritized populations at higher risk and those facing barriers to care. High screening and treatment coverage have been achieved among people living with HIV, patients with end-stage renal disease, individuals receiving opioid agonist therapy, and incarcerated populations. These outcomes underscore the equity and inclusiveness of Taiwan’s healthcare system.
Over the past two decades, Taiwan has recorded a significant decline in liver cancer incidence and mortality trends closely linked to sustained hepatitis prevention and treatment efforts. These achievements, highlighted in the Taiwan Hepatitis C Elimination Report, are the result of coordinated efforts among central and local governments, public health authorities, healthcare providers, and civil society organizations. Strong political will, supported by robust surveillance systems and transparent data reporting, has been key to this success.
As the world works toward the 2030 hepatitis elimination goals, the “Taiwan Model” demonstrates that success is possible when science, policy, and equity align. Taiwan has submitted its Hepatitis C Elimination Report to the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office for validation under the PTE Gold Tier framework. The country looks forward to recognition of its leadership and remains committed to sharing its experience and collaborating globally to accelerate progress toward a hepatitis C–free world.
