2024 Global Hepatitis Report

General Studies-II

(Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International Relations)

Why In News

• The World Health Organization (WHO) did release their 2024 Global Hepatitis Report recently.

Hepatitis Overview

• Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by viruses or other factors.
• Five main hepatitis viruses exist (A, B, C, D, and E), each with varying transmission modes, severity, and geographical prevalence.
• Types B and C are the most concerning, leading to chronic illness and causing most liver cirrhosis, cancer, and deaths related to viral hepatitis.

Report Highlights

• This is the first comprehensive WHO report on viral hepatitis, providing data on disease burden, service coverage, and access to treatments.
• It includes data from 187 countries on infections, deaths, and service coverage.
• An update on access to hepatitis B and C treatments in low- and middle-income countries is included, covering nearly 80% of global infections and deaths.

Key Findings

• Globally, an estimated 254 million people have hepatitis B and 50 million have hepatitis C (as of 2022).
• Deaths from viral hepatitis have risen from 1.1 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2022.
• Hepatitis B causes 83% of these deaths, with hepatitis C causing the remaining 17%.
• Around 3500 people die globally every day due to hepatitis B and C infections.
• Ten countries carry nearly two-thirds of the global burden: Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, and Vietnam.
• India has the second-highest number of cases (after China) with 3.5 crore (35 million) infections, accounting for 11.6% of the global burden in 2022.

Concerns

• Despite progress in preventing infections, many with hepatitis remain undiagnosed and untreated, leading to rising deaths.
• Viral hepatitis is now the second leading infectious cause of global death (1.3 million annually), on par with tuberculosis.
• Unequal access to treatment persists due to pricing disparities across regions, even for generic drugs.
• Service delivery is often centralized and lacks integration, and out-of-pocket expenses remain a barrier for many.
• Insufficient funding exists, both globally and within national health budgets.

Recommendations

• The report suggests a public health approach to eliminate hepatitis by 2030.
• Key actions include:
  • Expanding access to testing and diagnosis.
  • Implementing equitable treatment policies.
  • Strengthening prevention efforts in primary care.
  • Utilizing improved data for informed action.
  • Engaging affected communities and civil society.

the Hindu