Delivering on the WHO Vision: Taiwan’s Path Toward Ending Hepatitis C as a Public  Health Threat 

Dr. Chung-Liang Shih 

Minister of Health and Welfare, Taiwan 

For decades, hepatitis C has been recognized as a major global public health challenge,  with an estimated 58 million people living with chronic hepatitis C infection worldwide.  Although no vaccine currently exists, hepatitis C is now curable with highly effective direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapies delivered through treatment courses of 8–12 weeks. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Glasgow Declaration on  Viral Hepatitis in 2015, setting ambitious goals to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health  threat by 2030. 

In line with the WHO’s Guidance for Country Validation of Viral Hepatitis Elimination and  Path to Elimination, Taiwan has reached the Gold Tier programmatic targets under the  WHO Path to Elimination (PTE) framework for hepatitis C. This progress has been driven  by the government’s political will and the systematic integration of hepatitis prevention,  screening, diagnosis, and treatment into a universal health-care system. 

Through Taiwan’s Adult Preventive Healthcare Services for hepatitis B and C, as well as  the National Health Insurance program for DAA reimbursement, hepatitis C screening and  treatment are widely available, thereby reducing financial and structural barriers to care.  As of June 2025, an estimated 90.2% of individuals with chronic hepatitis C have been  diagnosed, and 92.6% of those diagnosed have received DAA treatment, exceeding the  WHO PTE Gold Tier benchmarks. 

Prevention and patient safety remain indispensable components of hepatitis C elimination.  Taiwan maintains 100% screening of donated blood and 100% safe medical injection  practices. Comprehensive harm reduction programs are also provided to ensure wide  access to sterile injecting equipment for people who inject drugs (PWID), with more than  150 syringes distributed per person. These measures are essential for reducing new  infections and safeguarding elimination gains over time. 

Consistent with the WHO and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) principle of Leave  No One Behind, Taiwan has focused on populations facing higher risks and greater 

barriers to care. High screening coverage and treatment rates have been achieved among  people living with HIV, patients with end-stage renal disease, individuals receiving opioid  agonist therapy, and prisoners in correctional facilities. These outcomes reflect the equity  of our healthcare systems and reflect the WHO’s core principle. 

Over the past two decades, Taiwan has observed a substantial decline in liver cancer  incidence and mortality, trends closely linked to long-standing hepatitis prevention and  treatment policies. The achievements presented in the Taiwan Hepatitis C Elimination  Report are the result of close cross-sectoral collaboration among central and local  governments, public health authorities, clinical providers, and civil society organizations.  Taiwan’s success is also rooted in the government’s political will, supported by robust  surveillance systems and transparent data reporting. 

As the global target toward the 2030 viral hepatitis elimination goals, the “Taiwan Model” offers clear evidence that elimination is achievable when science, political will, and equity  converge. The Taiwan Hepatitis C Elimination Report has been submitted to the WHO  Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) for validation under the PTE Gold Tier for hepatitis  C elimination. We look forward to the recognition of Taiwan’s demonstrated leadership and  contributions in advancing hepatitis C elimination. Taiwan remains committed to working  with the international community and sharing our experience to help accelerate global  progress toward a world free from hepatitis C.