Closing the gaps in the fight against hepatitis
Earlier testing and easier access to care could help prevent liver cancer and premature deaths.
Hepatitis B and C pose major public health challenges in Asia Pacific, home to over two-thirds of the world's 260 million chronic hepatitis B cases and nearly half of global hepatitis C cases. Early detection and access to care are crucial to prevent liver cancer and premature deaths. Fiona, diagnosed at 15, faced stigma at school, while 60-year-old Lin discovered his hepatitis B only after liver failure.
Dr Janus Ong, a gastroenterologist, explained that many with hepatitis B or C have no symptoms for years, and untreated infection can lead to liver cirrhosis, failure, and cancer. Stigma and misconceptions make people afraid to get tested or reveal their status. Public education, such as the Behind the Silence campaign, aims to reduce stigma by encouraging conversations about hepatitis.
Dr Ong suggests integrating hepatitis screening and care into primary healthcare to detect infections earlier, reduce stigma, and make treatment more accessible. The StITCH program, implemented in Vietnam and the Philippines, decentralizes hepatitis services to primary care settings, making care more convenient and less stigmatizing.
The Focus program, launched in 2010, partners with healthcare institutions to improve access to screening and care for blood-borne viruses, particularly in communities with high disease prevalence. As of December 2025, Focus partners performed over 24 million blood-borne virus tests in such communities. Dr Ong emphasized that diagnosing more people and moving services closer to communities are key priorities to achieve hepatitis elimination by 2030.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
