World Hepatitis Day underscores untreated hepatitis C cases worldwide

World Hepatitis Day on July 28 raises awareness of viral hepatitis, which many people carry unknowingly. Hepatitis A and E spread through contaminated food or water, while hepatitis B, C and D are transmitted via blood. Vaccines exist for hepatitis A and B; hepatitis C can be cured in over 95% of patients with direct‑acting antivirals.

Despite the availability of short, oral, highly effective treatments, the World Health Organization’s Global Hepatitis Report 2026 notes that eight out of ten patients who could benefit from therapy have not received it. In Argentina, the civil association Buena Vida highlighted that only about 20% of eligible individuals have accessed treatment since 2015. President of the association Rubén Cantelmi said, “Today the main problem is not the lack of treatments, but that many people do not know that hepatitis C has completely changed. The medications are oral, cure in 8‑12 weeks, and are covered by health systems.” The report stresses that improving diagnosis and treatment access is crucial to prevent cirrhosis, liver cancer and other complications.