Why Hepatitis Kills Despite a Cheap Cure

About this episode

This episode discusses the challenges and progress in the fight against viral hepatitis as outlined in the World Health Organization's Global Hepatitis Report 2026.

In this episode, we unpack the latest findings from the World Health Organization’s Global Hepatitis Report 2026 —a sobering assessment of where the world stands in the fight against viral hepatitis. Despite years of global commitments, the data tells a more complicated story. Progress has been made in tackling hepatitis B and C, but not at the pace needed to meet the 2030 elimination targets. Millions remain undiagnosed, untreated, and at risk. We explore what’s working—and what isn’t. From life-saving vaccination programmes to the critical role of blood safety and access to antiviral treatments, the report lays out five core interventions that could turn the tide. But implementation remains uneven, with the heaviest burden falling on regions like Africa and the Western Pacific. This episode goes beyond the headlines to examine the structural gaps, funding challenges, and policy blind spots slowing progress—and what must happen next to prevent millions of avoidable deaths. If the world is serious about eliminating hepatitis, this is a moment of reckoning.

Topics covered

• hepatitis
• global health
• public health policy
• viral infections
• healthcare access
• disease elimination

Keywords

• hepatitis
• WHO
• global health
• vaccination
• antiviral treatments
• health policy
• disease elimination

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: World Health Organization

Products: antiviral treatments, vaccination programmes

Places: Africa, Western Pacific

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