Taiwan’s health minister said hepatitis C testing will be expanded
Taipei: Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan said yesterday that Taiwan is stepping up efforts to screen and treat hepatitis C among high-risk groups, such as drug users, prisoners, and people with chronic illnesses, in an attempt to eradicate the virus by next year, five years ahead of the WHO‘s 2030 target, according to Taipei Times.
According to Chiu, the country has made great strides in reducing hepatitis infections because of the 1984 introduction of the national hepatitis B immunization program.
Every infant has had a hepatitis B vaccination since 1986. “Based on the successful experience of controlling hepatitis B, the government is confident of being awarded gold-tier certification in hepatitis C elimination,” he said.
The government intends to “go the last mile” by increasing screening and treatment efforts to address underperforming indicators, especially among drug users, those who are jailed, and people with chronic illnesses, including diabetes and kidney problems.
By properly managing hepatitis C, these actions seek to increase the effectiveness of therapies for chronic illnesses, according to Chiu.
Taiwan has already achieved a number of WHO hepatitis C eradication targets, according to Wu Chao-chun, Director-General of the Health Promotion Administration (HPA). According to Taipei Times, the country’s hepatitis C diagnosis rate as of June was 90.6%, while the cure rate was more than 95%.
“Standards in blood transfusion safety and injection safety have also been achieved,” Wu said.
The average annual usage of safe and sterile needles among drug users was 292 per person, which was close to the WHO standard of 300. Wu emphasized that Taiwan is one step closer to obtaining gold-tier accreditation the next year after reaching this milestone.
According to Wu, the danger of reinfection among drug users and convicts has proven difficult to manage. To combat this, these groups get long-term monitoring and are not restricted to a single state-funded hepatitis C test.
According to Taipei Times, Chien Rong-nan, an attending physician in gastroenterology at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, emphasized the significance of informed consent for hepatitis C examinations in order to respect human rights.
He said, “Most drug users do not like to have blood tests, leading to hepatitis C diagnostic rates as low as 40 to 50 percent in prisons.”
Similar to blood glucose testing, the HPA has implemented an at-home quick testing strategy to address this problem and promote screenings in correctional facilities. According to Chien, the goal of this invention is to increase diagnosis rates and involvement among hesitant people.
By taking these steps, Taiwan hopes to meet its aggressive goal of eliminating hepatitis C by 2025, showcasing its dedication to public health and establishing a worldwide benchmark in the fight against the illness.
