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Review
. 2020 Jun;5(6):e002306.
doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-002306.

Combating hepatitis B and C by 2030: achievements, gaps, and options for actions in China

Shu Chen  1 , Wenhui Mao  2 , Lei Guo  2 , Jiahui Zhang  3 , Shenglan Tang  4
Affiliations
Review

Combating hepatitis B and C by 2030: achievements, gaps, and options for actions in China

Shu Chen et al. BMJ Glob Health. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

China has the highest number of hepatitis B and C cases globally. Despite remarkable achievements, China faces daunting challenges in achieving international targets for hepatitis elimination. As part of a large-scale project assessing China's progress in achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals using quantitative, qualitative data and mathematical modelling, this paper summarises the achievements, gaps and challenges, and proposes options for actions for hepatitis B and C control. China has made substantial progress in controlling chronic viral hepatitis. The four most successful strategies have been: (1) hepatitis B virus childhood immunisation; (2) prevention of mother-to-child transmission; (3) full coverage of nucleic acid amplification testing in blood stations and (4) effective financing strategies to support treatment. However, the total number of deaths due to hepatitis B and C is estimated to increase from 434 724 in 2017 to 527 829 in 2030 if there is no implementation of tailored interventions. Many health system barriers, including a fragmented governance system, insufficient funding, inadequate service coverage, unstandardised treatment and flawed information systems, have compromised the effective control of hepatitis B and C in China. We suggest five strategic priority actions to help eliminate hepatitis B and C in China: (1) restructure the viral hepatitis control governance system; (2) optimise health resource allocation and improve funding efficiency; (3) improve access to and the quality of the health benefits package, especially for high-risk groups; (4) strengthen information systems to obtain high-quality hepatitis epidemiological data; (5) increase investment in viral hepatitis research and development.

Keywords: health systems; viral hepatitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The historical change of deaths due to hepatitis B and C from 1990 to 2017 and projected changes from 2017 to 2030 in China. Data source: GBD 2017 Study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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