How is the Welsh Government ensuring that all health boards are able to deliver the committed actions set out in Welsh Health Circular (2023/001) and eliminate Hepatitis B and C as a public health threat in Wales?
The Welsh Government is committed to achieving the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) targets to eliminate hepatitis B and C as a public health threat by 2030.
National targets for both testing and treatment of people with hepatitis C were in place during the period 2021-22 and 2022-23, having been set in line with the WHO’s interim 2025 and longer-term 2030 elimination targets. During the period 2021-22 and 2022-23 the interim targets set by the WHO were to ensure that by 2025;
- 60% of people with hepatitis B and C virus are diagnosed
- 50% of those eligible receive appropriate treatment.
On a longer-term basis, by 2030 the targets state that:
- At least 90% of people with hepatitis B and C are diagnosed
- At least 80% of people diagnosed with hepatitis B and C are treated/cured respectively.
These figures are based on 2015 as a baseline year.
In addition to the targets set by the WHO, we have additional targets for testing in substance misuse services, community pharmacies and prisons, as outlined in the Welsh Health Circular issued in January (WHC/2023/001).
In terms of treating individuals, we now have minimum treatment targets for hepatitis C for each health board in 2023-24 that will allow us to more closely track progress to achieving elimination by 2030.
The testing and treatment numbers requested are not yet available. However, data up to and including 2022 will be included in Public Health Wales’s Blood-Borne Virus (BBV) Annual Report, which is expected to be published in the summer.
Officials have commissioned health boards to submit recovery plans to the Welsh Government-led Hepatitis B and C Elimination Programme Oversight Group by mid-July. Health Boards have been working closely with PHW and substance misuse Area Planning Boards in developing these plans. It is expected that within these plans, detail will be provided as to how services will not only recover post pandemic, but also deliver a significant increase in individuals being tested and treated with a focus on populations at risk of hepatitis B and C.
The Hepatitis B and C Elimination Programme Oversight Group will be tasked with reviewing these plans when submitted and holding services accountable for their respective targets/actions to oversee progress towards elimination by 2030.