NHS on track to eliminate hepatitis C five years ahead of global targets

England to become first country to eliminate virus thanks to targeted screening campaigns and effective treatments

The NHS is set to eliminate hepatitis C in England by 2025 due to targeted screening campaigns for those at risk and effective drug treatments, according to health officials. NHS England said the measures are helping to dramatically cut deaths from the virus five years ahead of global targets.

Deaths from hepatitis C - including liver disease and cancer - have fallen by 35% since NHS England struck a five-year deal worth almost 1bn to buy antiviral drugs for thousands of patients in 2018.