England meets 80% hepatitis C treatment target with 100,000 cases cleared since 2015

NHS England deployed A&E opt-out testing, GP registration screens, and at-home kits to close the diagnosis gap. Current estimates place 84.6% of the 50,200 remaining infections identified, with antiviral regimens achieving >95% sustained virologic response after 8-12 weeks. Mortality has declined 36% from 2015 baselines, approaching the 65% reduction required by 2030.

The infected blood scandal (1970-1991) left an estimated 30,000 exposures; the current program functions as both remediation and surveillance. UKHSA data show Eastern European migrant cohorts account for a disproportionate share of undiagnosed cases linked to pre-1991 transfusion practices abroad. This overlaps with the 2024 Infected Blood Inquiry findings on delayed screening failures.

Operational delivery now hinges on sustaining annual treatment volumes above 8,000 while expanding point-of-care RNA testing in prisons and drug services. Failure to close the final 5.4% diagnosis gap by 2027 would delay WHO certification beyond 2030. Comparable trajectories in Georgia and Egypt indicate that once 85% diagnosis is reached, elimination certification follows within 36 months under continuous procurement.

Next milestone is the 2026 UKHSA annual report, which will confirm whether mortality has crossed the 65% threshold and whether active viremia has fallen below 10,000 cases.