China Advances in Hepatitis Prevention and Control
Here is a rephrased version of the article description: "China achieves advancements in the prevention and control of hepatitis"
TroibNews 
In observance of World Hepatitis Day on Sunday, Chinese officials and experts underscored the country's notable advancements in hepatitis prevention and control. Hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver, can lead to severe liver disease and cancer.
Enhanced monitoring and comprehensive interventions have resulted in a steady decline of hepatitis infections in China, according to Chang Jile, deputy head of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration.
Data reveals a continuous drop in the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen, particularly among children under five, where it has been reduced to below 1 percent. Hepatitis B remains a major public health concern globally and is especially impactful in China.
When discussing hepatitis, people often refer to the most infectious and harmful forms of viral hepatitis, which includes five main strains: A, B, C, D, and E.
The incidence rate of hepatitis A in China has decreased significantly from 55.69 per 100,000 individuals in 1991 to 1.06 per 100,000 in 2020. Hepatitis E also maintains a low incidence rate of 1.85 per 100,000 in 2021, stated Li Jian, an expert with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC).
The treatment landscape for viral hepatitis has improved, with a higher number of patients receiving standard treatment. The antiviral cure rate for hepatitis C patients has surpassed 95 percent, noted Chang.
In 2022, China recorded around 367,700 new liver cancer cases, with a standardized incidence rate of about 15.03 per 100,000 individuals, indicating a downward trend, according to the National Cancer Center.
The WHO's global hepatitis elimination strategy aims to decrease new viral hepatitis infections by 90 percent and deaths by 65 percent between 2016 and 2030, while boosting the diagnosis rate to 90 percent and the treatment rate to 80 percent.
China in action
China has recently embraced a prevention-first strategy, integrating prevention and treatment efforts, with societal collaboration aimed at eradicating hepatitis. Chang shared these insights during a convention earlier this month that aimed to promote World Hepatitis Day and related elimination actions.
By 2030, China seeks to establish a comprehensive disease control system. This system would feature disease control and prevention institutions as the backbone, medical institutions as support, and community-level medical and healthcare providers as the final safety net, according to a document released in December 2023.
Furthermore, the costs of antiviral medications for hepatitis have been reduced through bulk procurement and negotiations. Medications for hepatitis B are now included in the country's basic medical insurance, while those for hepatitis C have been added to the national list of essential medicines, significantly easing the financial burden on patients.
Enhanced screening
Despite these advances, eliminating hepatitis viruses remains a challenging endeavor for China.
Experts cite several factors, including a large population of hepatitis virus carriers and patients, limited capacity of grassroots healthcare services, social stigma related to hepatitis patients, and low public awareness about hepatitis prevention and control.
About 75 million people live with chronic hepatitis B in China, as reported by China CDC researcher Yin Zundong.
Experts advocate for increased diagnostic and treatment efforts to quickly identify and address those who are undiagnosed and untreated, which is crucial for reducing the incidence of severe liver diseases.
According to Li, the diagnosis and treatment rates for hepatitis B in China are significantly below the WHO's 2030 targets.
Zhang Wenhong, head of the National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, stressed the importance of grassroots medical services, integrating hospitals with disease prevention and control institutions, and fostering multidisciplinary cooperation.
Wang Yu, chairman of the Chinese Foundation for Hepatitis Prevention and Control, called for better management of hepatitis patients throughout their disease progression, as well as early liver cancer monitoring among those with chronic hepatitis.
A recently adopted reform resolution from the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China highlights efforts to enhance the public health system. This includes promoting collaboration between hospitals and disease prevention and control institutions, and boosting capacities for disease monitoring and early warning, risk assessment, epidemiological investigation, testing and inspection, emergency response, and treatment.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Enhanced monitoring and comprehensive interventions have resulted in a steady decline of hepatitis infections in China, according to Chang Jile, deputy head of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration.
Data reveals a continuous drop in the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen, particularly among children under five, where it has been reduced to below 1 percent. Hepatitis B remains a major public health concern globally and is especially impactful in China.
When discussing hepatitis, people often refer to the most infectious and harmful forms of viral hepatitis, which includes five main strains: A, B, C, D, and E.
The incidence rate of hepatitis A in China has decreased significantly from 55.69 per 100,000 individuals in 1991 to 1.06 per 100,000 in 2020. Hepatitis E also maintains a low incidence rate of 1.85 per 100,000 in 2021, stated Li Jian, an expert with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC).
The treatment landscape for viral hepatitis has improved, with a higher number of patients receiving standard treatment. The antiviral cure rate for hepatitis C patients has surpassed 95 percent, noted Chang.
In 2022, China recorded around 367,700 new liver cancer cases, with a standardized incidence rate of about 15.03 per 100,000 individuals, indicating a downward trend, according to the National Cancer Center.
The WHO's global hepatitis elimination strategy aims to decrease new viral hepatitis infections by 90 percent and deaths by 65 percent between 2016 and 2030, while boosting the diagnosis rate to 90 percent and the treatment rate to 80 percent.
China in action
China has recently embraced a prevention-first strategy, integrating prevention and treatment efforts, with societal collaboration aimed at eradicating hepatitis. Chang shared these insights during a convention earlier this month that aimed to promote World Hepatitis Day and related elimination actions.
By 2030, China seeks to establish a comprehensive disease control system. This system would feature disease control and prevention institutions as the backbone, medical institutions as support, and community-level medical and healthcare providers as the final safety net, according to a document released in December 2023.
Furthermore, the costs of antiviral medications for hepatitis have been reduced through bulk procurement and negotiations. Medications for hepatitis B are now included in the country's basic medical insurance, while those for hepatitis C have been added to the national list of essential medicines, significantly easing the financial burden on patients.
Enhanced screening
Despite these advances, eliminating hepatitis viruses remains a challenging endeavor for China.
Experts cite several factors, including a large population of hepatitis virus carriers and patients, limited capacity of grassroots healthcare services, social stigma related to hepatitis patients, and low public awareness about hepatitis prevention and control.
About 75 million people live with chronic hepatitis B in China, as reported by China CDC researcher Yin Zundong.
Experts advocate for increased diagnostic and treatment efforts to quickly identify and address those who are undiagnosed and untreated, which is crucial for reducing the incidence of severe liver diseases.
According to Li, the diagnosis and treatment rates for hepatitis B in China are significantly below the WHO's 2030 targets.
Zhang Wenhong, head of the National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, stressed the importance of grassroots medical services, integrating hospitals with disease prevention and control institutions, and fostering multidisciplinary cooperation.
Wang Yu, chairman of the Chinese Foundation for Hepatitis Prevention and Control, called for better management of hepatitis patients throughout their disease progression, as well as early liver cancer monitoring among those with chronic hepatitis.
A recently adopted reform resolution from the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China highlights efforts to enhance the public health system. This includes promoting collaboration between hospitals and disease prevention and control institutions, and boosting capacities for disease monitoring and early warning, risk assessment, epidemiological investigation, testing and inspection, emergency response, and treatment.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
