Scottish Government aim to eliminate hepatitis C in Scotland by 2024
06 August 2019
Article: 53/3101
On 31 July 2019, the Scottish Government announced plans to treat more people for hepatitis C, with the aim of effectively eliminating the condition in Scotland six years ahead of the target set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have also published a report on the hepatitis C elimination strategy to accompany the release of the government’s plan.
The Scottish Government has committed to increase the number of people treated for the potentially fatal blood-borne virus to at least 2,500 in 2019-2020, then to at least 3,000 annually from 2020-2021.
In Scotland, there are an estimated 21,000 people living with hepatitis C, which causes progressive damage to the liver. By increasing the number of people treated annually, NHS Scotland hope to be able to effectively eliminate the condition by 2024.
During 2018-2019, NHS Scotland exceeded the target to treat 2,000 people for hepatitis C.