EU Misses 2030 Target for Eliminating Viral Hepatitis Despite Progress

• Europe is set to miss its 2030 target for eliminating viral hepatitis due to gaps in prevention measures.
• An estimated five million people in the EU/EEA live with chronic hepatitis B or C infections, and almost 60,000 die each year from liver disease linked to these infections.
• Only nine out of 25 countries meet the WHO target for fully vaccinating children against hepatitis B.
• The distribution of sterile injection equipment and opioid agonist treatment remains inadequate, with only seven countries meeting the WHO target.

'No one should die from a disease that is preventable, diagnosable and treatable, yet millions of Europeans are living with chronic hepatitis B or C infections – often without knowing it – which can lead to severe long-term consequences such as liver failure or liver cancer.'

New data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reveals that despite progress in preventing hepatitis B and C, Europe is on track to miss its 2030 target for eliminating viral hepatitis. The ECDC's findings highlight a critical gap in prevention measures at the community level, with only nine out of 25 countries meeting the World Health Organization's target for fully vaccinating children against hepatitis B. This uneven implementation of key measures has significant implications for public health, as an estimated five million people in the EU/EEA live with chronic hepatitis B or C infections, and almost 60,000 die each year from liver disease linked to these infections.

While existing measures such as vaccination, harm reduction, testing, and treatment have been effective in controlling viral hepatitis across Europe, there are still significant inequities in access to these life-saving interventions. Routine screening for hepatitis B in pregnancy has become well-established across all 30 EU/EEA countries, but comprehensive screening systems to prevent transmission through blood, tissues, or cells are not yet universal. Furthermore, the distribution of sterile injection equipment and opioid agonist treatment remains inadequate, with only seven countries meeting the WHO target for these interventions.

To meet the 2030 goal, it is essential that Europe addresses the remaining gaps in prevention measures. This includes improving access to harm reduction measures, such as opioid agonist treatment and sterile needle distribution, particularly among people who inject drugs. Additionally, healthcare systems must be strengthened in settings where transmission is most likely to occur, including prisons. By addressing these inequities and ensuring that life-saving interventions are accessible to all who need them, Europe can work towards ending hepatitis as a public health threat.

Lawyers advising clients in the healthcare sector should watch for potential compliance exposures related to the implementation of harm reduction measures, particularly with regards to the distribution of sterile injection equipment and opioid agonist treatment.

Source: Original reporting via ECDC World Hepatitis Day report