World Hepatitis Day 2025: Urgent Call to Eliminate Barriers to Care

On July 28, 2025, World Hepatitis Day will be observed under the theme “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down,” highlighting the critical need to address obstacles in prevention, testing, and treatment of hepatitis to achieve global elimination goals by 2030. This initiative is particularly relevant as viral hepatitis continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that 1.3 million deaths occur annually due to chronic viral hepatitis, primarily resulting from liver cancer and cirrhosis (World Health Organization, 2025).

Historically, World Hepatitis Day is celebrated on the birthday of Dr. Baruch Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine (World Health Organization, 2025). The ongoing challenge lies in the fact that approximately 354 million individuals are living with chronic hepatitis B or C globally, yet a significant proportion remains unaware of their infection status, which exacerbates the risk of liver complications (World Health Organization, 2025).

The WHO emphasizes three critical issues in their 2025 campaign. Firstly, hepatitis remains a leading cause of liver cancer and a health crisis in regions with limited access to healthcare. With 6,000 new infections of hepatitis B and C reported daily, there is a pressing need for enhanced public health strategies (World Health Organization, 2025). Secondly, the importance of early diagnosis cannot be overstated; the WHO asserts that many individuals are unaware of their hepatitis status until advanced disease stages, which diminishes treatment efficacy. Lastly, the WHO calls for immediate action: despite the existence of effective vaccines and curative therapies, many cases go undiagnosed due to insufficient public awareness and healthcare infrastructure (World Health Organization, 2025).

Dr. Maria Neira, Director of Public Health and Environment at WHO, stated, “The campaign underscores the need to scale up access and integrate hepatitis services into national health systems to mitigate the risk of liver cancer and other severe complications.” This sentiment is echoed by Dr. Sarah Johnson, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, who emphasizes that “addressing financial, social, and systemic barriers is crucial for effective hepatitis elimination.”

The WHO has outlined strategic priorities for achieving hepatitis elimination, urging public health authorities to integrate hepatitis services within universal health coverage frameworks. This includes expanding testing and treatment accessibility, particularly in underserved communities, and ensuring that newborns receive the hepatitis B vaccine promptly (World Health Organization, 2025).

The campaign also seeks to mobilize policymakers to support awareness campaigns linking hepatitis care with liver cancer prevention. Dr. Thomas Frieden, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), noted, “Investing in hepatitis elimination is not only a public health imperative but also a moral obligation.”

In conclusion, as World Hepatitis Day 2025 approaches, the urgent call to dismantle barriers to hepatitis prevention and treatment resonates louder than ever. With the right investments and commitment from global leaders, the goal of eliminating hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 is within reach. The WHO encourages individuals to participate in the global hepatitis webinar scheduled for July 28, which will feature discussions on progress and innovative strategies to combat this ongoing health challenge (World Health Organization, 2025).