WHO urges countries to break down barriers to hepatitis care

The World Health Organization is preparing World Hepatitis Day 2026 under the theme 'Hepatitis: Let's break it down.' The campaign calls for removing the financial, social and systemic barriers that keep people away from vaccination, testing, treatment and care. WHO's campaign page says 287 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B or C in 2024, and 1.3 million people died from chronic hepatitis B and C that year. The numbers show why the issue remains a public-health priority even when it receives less daily attention than outbreaks. Viral hepatitis can progress silently and lead to severe liver disease or liver cancer. That makes access to testing especially important. A person may not know they are infected until disease has advanced, even when prevention or treatment options exist. The 2026 message is practical: simplify services, reduce stigma, expand equitable access and bring hepatitis care into health systems. The upcoming commemoration event may add new policy commitments or regional priorities.