Diagnosing hepatitis early can save people from developing severe liver damage including liver cancer, which is the third leading cause of cancer deaths globally. However, hepatitis testing in many countries remains poor.
Of the 50 million people living with hepatitis C globally in 2022, only 36% were aware of their infection and 20% had been treated. Of the 254 million people living with hepatitis B, only 13% were aware of their infection and 3% had been treated.
“Testing is the major improvement that's needed in every country in Asia and most countries globally,” Dr. John Ward, director of the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, told Devex.