Taiwan aims to achieve HCV elimination by 2025. Innovative strategies of precision public health are implemented, including targeted screening programs (for high-risk populations, rural populations and specific institutions) to identify HCV-positive individuals, followed by linkage to care programs (screening and linkage-to-care, SLTC), under the guidance of policies. The following are illustration of Taiwan experiences with productive outcomes attributed to government and policy support.

Taiwan aims to achieve HCV elimination by 2025. Innovative strategies of precision public health are implemented, including targeted screening programs (for high-risk populations, rural populations and specific institutions) to identify HCV-positive individuals, followed by linkage to care programs (screening and linkage-to-care, SLTC), under the guidance of policies. The following are illustration of Taiwan experiences with productive outcomes attributed to government and policy support.

Taiwan aims to achieve HCV elimination by 2025. Innovative strategies of precision public health are implemented, including targeted screening programs (for high-risk populations, rural populations and specific institutions) to identify HCV-positive individuals, followed by linkage to care programs (screening and linkage-to-care, SLTC), under the guidance of policies. The following are illustration of Taiwan experiences with productive outcomes attributed to government and policy support.

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Taiwan commits to eliminating hepatitis C ahead the goal of WHO

World Health Organization (WHO) launched an ultimate goal in 2016 to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Updated guidelines were released in 2022 to recommend simplification of care pathway to overcome barriers in access to HCV testing and treatment.
Taiwan accelerates its effort by financing a national program, scaling up screening coverage and removing treatment restrictions with the goal to achieve eliminating HCV ahead of the 2030 deadline set by WHO. A timeline is used to illustrate how Taiwan has gradually promoted eliminating hepatitis C, via localization of prevention and treatment of hepatitis C, combined with the relaxation of national health insurance reimbursement criteria.
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HCV micro-elimination in prison Outreach onsite treatment with pangenotypic DAA

Prisoners are at high risk of HCV infection, with prevalence rates ranging from 3.1% to 38%.
Because HCV is readily transmitted through injection drug use, and individuals with substance use disorders are often incarcerated, there is a high prevalence of HCV infection in correctional setting. The anti-HCV prevalence rate could be as high as 91% among incarcerate people who inject drugs (PWID). Therefore, incorporating correctional settings into HCV elimination plans are of importance to reduce the burden of HCV infection.
To optimize HCV elimination efforts in correctional settings, this program implemented an outreach strategy in combination with universal mass screening and on-site treatment with a simplified pan-genotypic DAA regimen, with the aim to achieve HCV micro-elimination in a PWID dominate prison.
Read More

Experience Sharing: HCV‑HELP study Hepatitis C Virus in‑hospital micro elimination program

Well-designed strategies can effectively prevent the spread of HCV. Measurements included efficient tests and diagnosis, large-scale screening programs and easily-accessed HCV care cascade.
The HCV in-hospital elimination program (HCV-HELP) is to eliminate HCV, reduced hazards and provide a safe hospital environment for public and hospital staff members.
Read More

Experience Sharing: HCV Micro-Elimination in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Patients

People who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk for HCV infection. Taiwan has a reported HCV infection prevalence of higher than 90% in PWID. Heroin and other opiate addicts must receive regular methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) to control the addiction. The MMT center becomes a useful entry point to HCV management for MMT patients. For HCV micro-elimination, a multidisciplinary team, including MMT specialists, hepatologists, infectious disease (ID) specialists, and case managers, was established in E-Da hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The project adopted a referral model composed of 2 stages for HCV screening, diagnosis, and treatment, starting in January 2020 and ending in January 2021.
Read More

Elimination of Hepatitis C Virus in a Dialysis Population: A Collaborative Care Model in Taiwan

Taiwan is reported to have one of the highest prevalence rates of HCV in Northeast Asia and one of the highest incidences and prevalence rates of treated kidney failure worldwide. To stop HCV transmission in hemodialysis facilities, this study developed a novel collaborative care model via active collaboration between 31 dialysis facilities under the jurisdiction of the Changhua Public Health Bureau (CHPHB) in Changhua County, Taiwan and gastroenterologists. This collaborative care model in Taiwan increased the rates of diagnosis and treatment for HCV in dialysis facilities.
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Taiwan commits to eliminating hepatitis C ahead the goal of WHO

WHO於2016年宣示於2030年達成消除C型肝炎的目標，並於2022年更新C型肝炎治療指引。臺灣政府宣示提前達成消除C型肝炎，以達到WHO的目標。
以時間軸展示台灣如何逐步推動防治C肝在地化，搭配健保給付條件放寬， 實現C肝消除目標。

Taiwan aims to achieve HCV elimination by 2025. Innovative strategies of precision public health are implemented, including targeted screening programs (for high-risk populations, rural populations and specific institutions) to identify HCV-positive individuals, followed by linkage to care programs (screening and linkage-to-care, SLTC), under the guidance of policies. The following are illustration of Taiwan experiences in targeted screening of high-risk populations with productive outcomes.

Taiwan aims to achieve HCV elimination by 2025. Innovative strategies of precision public health are implemented, including targeted screening programs (for high-risk populations, rural populations and specific institutions) to identify HCV-positive individuals, followed by linkage to care programs (screening and linkage-to-care, SLTC), under the guidance of policies. The following are illustration of Taiwan experiences in targeted screening of high-risk populations with productive outcomes.
Taiwan aims to achieve HCV elimination by 2025. Innovative strategies of precision public health are implemented, including targeted screening programs (for high-risk populations, rural populations and specific institutions) to identify HCV-positive individuals, followed by linkage to care programs (screening and linkage-to-care, SLTC), under the guidance of policies. The following are illustration of Taiwan experiences in targeted screening of high-risk populations with productive outcomes.
Taiwan aims to achieve HCV elimination by 2025. Innovative strategies of precision public health are implemented, including targeted screening programs (for high-risk populations, rural populations and specific institutions) to identify HCV-positive individuals, followed by linkage to care programs (screening and linkage-to-care, SLTC), under the guidance of policies. The following are illustration of Taiwan experiences in targeted screening of high-risk populations with productive outcomes.
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Electronic Reminder System for HCV screening - Experience of Changhua Christian Hospital

In response to the government policy for HCV elimination, Changhua Christian Hospital designed and assessed an electronic reminder system for HCV screening in patients with a diagnosis of DM from the diabetes clinics or CKD from the nephrology department from August 2019, and extended to DM/CKD patients from all outpatient departments in the hospital from July 2020. The electronic reminder system would automatically check the HCV-Ab status and recommended physicians to order reflex anti-HCV test (including HCV-Ab and HCV RNA testing) in patients who had no previous HCV-Ab results from the past 10 years. Moreover, in order to improve the HCV diagnostic rate, the electronic reminder system began connecting to the adult health examination data from HPA from January 2021 to refer eligible patients to have reflex anti-HCV test.
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Experience Sharing: Micro-elimination of Hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis centers (ERASE-C)

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is prevalent in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and can be attributed to the nosocomial transmission in hemodialysis centers. Due to the highly prevalent and contiguous property in the close-contact environment, and the lack of an available vaccine, the strategy of ‘treatment as prevention’ is imperative for the control of HCV infection in the uremic hemodialysis population. ERASE-C program implements a universal outreach screening strategy, followed by either link-to-care or decentralized on-site treatment in 18 hemodialysis centers, in order to achieve micro-elimination of HCV for uremic patients in hemodialysis centers.
Read More

Elimination of Hepatitis C Virus in a Dialysis Population: A Collaborative Care Model in Taiwan

Taiwan is reported to have one of the highest prevalence rates of HCV in Northeast Asia and one of the highest incidences and prevalence rates of treated kidney failure worldwide. To stop HCV transmission in hemodialysis facilities, this study developed a novel collaborative care model via active collaboration between 31 dialysis facilities under the jurisdiction of the Changhua Public Health Bureau (CHPHB) in Changhua County, Taiwan and gastroenterologists. This collaborative care model in Taiwan increased the rates of diagnosis and treatment for HCV in dialysis facilities.
Read More

HCV micro-elimination in prison
Outreach onsite treatment with pangenotypic DAA

Prisoners are at high risk of HCV infection, with prevalence rates ranging from 3.1% to 38%. Because HCV is readily transmitted through injection drug use, and individuals with substance use disorders are often incarcerated, there is a high prevalence of HCV infection in correctional setting. The anti-HCV prevalence rate could be as high as 91% among incarcerate people who inject drugs (PWID). Therefore, incorporating correctional settings into HCV elimination plans are of importance to reduce the burden of HCV infection. To optimize HCV elimination efforts in correctional settings, this program implemented an outreach strategy in combination with universal mass screening and on-site treatment with a simplified pan-genotypic DAA regimen, with the aim to achieve HCV micro-elimination in a PWID dominate prison.
Read More

Experience Sharing: HCV Micro-Elimination in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Patients

People who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk for HCV infection. Taiwan has a reported HCV infection prevalence of higher than 90% in PWID. Heroin and other opiate addicts must receive regular methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) to control the addiction. The MMT center becomes a useful entry point to HCV management for MMT patients. For HCV micro-elimination, a multidisciplinary team, including MMT specialists, hepatologists, infectious disease (ID) specialists, and case managers, was established in E-Da hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The project adopted a referral model composed of 2 stages for HCV screening, diagnosis, and treatment, starting in January 2020 and ending in January 2021.
Read More

Electronic Reminder System for HCV screening - Experience of Changhua Christian Hospital

In response to the government policy for HCV elimination, Changhua Christian Hospital designed and assessed an electronic reminder system for HCV screening in patients with a diagnosis of DM from the diabetes clinics or CKD from the nephrology department from August 2019, and extended to DM/CKD patients from all outpatient departments in the hospital from July 2020. The electronic reminder system would automatically check the HCV-Ab status and recommended physicians to order reflex anti-HCV test (including HCV-Ab and HCV RNA testing) in patients who had no previous HCV-Ab results from the past 10 years. Moreover, in order to improve the HCV diagnostic rate, the electronic reminder system began connecting to the adult health examination data from HPA from January 2021 to refer eligible patients to have reflex anti-HCV test.
Taiwan aims to achieve HCV elimination by 2025. Innovative strategies of precision public health are implemented, including targeted screening programs (for high-risk populations, rural populations and specific institutions) to identify HCV-positive individuals, followed by linkage to care programs (screening and linkage-to-care, SLTC), under the guidance of policies. The following are illustration of Taiwan experiences in targeted screening of specific institutions with productive outcomes.
Taiwan aims to achieve HCV elimination by 2025. Innovative strategies of precision public health are implemented, including targeted screening programs (for high-risk populations, rural populations and specific institutions) to identify HCV-positive individuals, followed by linkage to care programs (screening and linkage-to-care, SLTC), under the guidance of policies. The following are illustration of Taiwan experiences in targeted screening of specific institutions with productive outcomes.
Taiwan aims to achieve HCV elimination by 2025. Innovative strategies of precision public health are implemented, including targeted screening programs (for high-risk populations, rural populations and specific institutions) to identify HCV-positive individuals, followed by linkage to care programs (screening and linkage-to-care, SLTC), under the guidance of policies. The following are illustration of Taiwan experiences in targeted screening of specific institutions with productive outcomes.
Read More

Experience Sharing: Micro-elimination of Hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis centers (ERASE-C)

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is prevalent in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and can be attributed to the nosocomial transmission in hemodialysis centers. Due to the highly prevalent and contiguous property in the close-contact environment, and the lack of an available vaccine, the strategy of ‘treatment as prevention’ is imperative for the control of HCV infection in the uremic hemodialysis population. ERASE-C program implements a universal outreach screening strategy, followed by either link-to-care or decentralized on-site treatment in 18 hemodialysis centers, in order to achieve micro-elimination of HCV for uremic patients in hemodialysis centers.
Read More

Elimination of Hepatitis C Virus in a Dialysis Population: A Collaborative Care Model in Taiwan

Taiwan is reported to have one of the highest prevalence rates of HCV in Northeast Asia and one of the highest incidences and prevalence rates of treated kidney failure worldwide. To stop HCV transmission in hemodialysis facilities, this study developed a novel collaborative care model via active collaboration between 31 dialysis facilities under the jurisdiction of the Changhua Public Health Bureau (CHPHB) in Changhua County, Taiwan and gastroenterologists. This collaborative care model in Taiwan increased the rates of diagnosis and treatment for HCV in dialysis facilities.
Read More

HCV micro-elimination in prison
Outreach onsite treatment with pangenotypic DAA

Prisoners are at high risk of HCV infection, with prevalence rates ranging from 3.1% to 38%. Because HCV is readily transmitted through injection drug use, and individuals with substance use disorders are often incarcerated, there is a high prevalence of HCV infection in correctional setting. The anti-HCV prevalence rate could be as high as 91% among incarcerate people who inject drugs (PWID). Therefore, incorporating correctional settings into HCV elimination plans are of importance to reduce the burden of HCV infection. To optimize HCV elimination efforts in correctional settings, this program implemented an outreach strategy in combination with universal mass screening and on-site treatment with a simplified pan-genotypic DAA regimen, with the aim to achieve HCV micro-elimination in a PWID dominate prison.
Read More

Experience Sharing: Micro-elimination of Hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialysis centers (ERASE-C)

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is prevalent in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and can be attributed to the nosocomial transmission in hemodialysis centers. Due to the highly prevalent and contiguous property in the close-contact environment, and the lack of an available vaccine, the strategy of ‘treatment as prevention’ is imperative for the control of HCV infection in the uremic hemodialysis population. ERASE-C program implements a universal outreach screening strategy, followed by either link-to-care or decentralized on-site treatment in 18 hemodialysis centers, in order to achieve micro-elimination of HCV for uremic patients in hemodialysis centers.
Read More

Experience Sharing: HCV‑HELP study Hepatitis C Virus in‑hospital micro elimination program

Well-designed strategies can effectively prevent the spread of HCV. Measurements included efficient tests and diagnosis, large-scale screening programs and easily-accessed HCV care cascade. The HCV in-hospital elimination program (HCV-HELP) is to eliminate HCV, reduced hazards and provide a safe hospital environment for public and hospital staff members.
Read More

Experience Sharing: Hepatitis C Virus Reflex Testing

A thorough HCV care cascade involves proper screening, confirmation of the presence of HCV RNA, and linking patients to medical care. The multistep testing procedure represents barriers to HCV care. HCV reflex testing is a strategy that simplifies the diagnostic algorithms. Namely, the laboratory performs anti-HCV testing first, if the result is positive, the laboratory will immediately perform an HCV RNA test on the same blood sample. Reflex testing obviates the need for the patient to return for follow-up testing should the initially HCV antibody test be reactive. Implementation of reflex testing enables timely and accurate diagnosis of HCV.
Read More

Experience Sharing: HCV Micro-Elimination in Methadone Maintenance Treatment Patients

People who inject drugs (PWID) are at high risk for HCV infection. Taiwan has a reported HCV infection prevalence of higher than 90% in PWID. Heroin and other opiate addicts must receive regular methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) to control the addiction. The MMT center becomes a useful entry point to HCV management for MMT patients. For HCV micro-elimination, a multidisciplinary team, including MMT specialists, hepatologists, infectious disease (ID) specialists, and case managers, was established in E-Da hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The project adopted a referral model composed of 2 stages for HCV screening, diagnosis, and treatment, starting in January 2020 and ending in January 2021.
Read More

Electronic Reminder System for HCV screening - Experience of Changhua Christian Hospital

In response to the government policy for HCV elimination, Changhua Christian Hospital designed and assessed an electronic reminder system for HCV screening in patients with a diagnosis of DM from the diabetes clinics or CKD from the nephrology department from August 2019, and extended to DM/CKD patients from all outpatient departments in the hospital from July 2020. The electronic reminder system would automatically check the HCV-Ab status and recommended physicians to order reflex anti-HCV test (including HCV-Ab and HCV RNA testing) in patients who had no previous HCV-Ab results from the past 10 years. Moreover, in order to improve the HCV diagnostic rate, the electronic reminder system began connecting to the adult health examination data from HPA from January 2021 to refer eligible patients to have reflex anti-HCV test.

Taiwan aims to achieve HCV elimination by 2025. Innovative strategies of precision public health are implemented, including targeted screening programs (for high-risk populations, rural populations and specific institutions) to identify HCV-positive individuals, followed by linkage to care programs (screening and linkage-to-care, SLTC), under the guidance of policies. The following are illustration of Taiwan experiences with productive outcomes attributed to local government support and resource management.

Taiwan aims to achieve HCV elimination by 2025. Innovative strategies of precision public health are implemented, including targeted screening programs (for high-risk populations, rural populations and specific institutions) to identify HCV-positive individuals, followed by linkage to care programs (screening and linkage-to-care, SLTC), under the guidance of policies. The following are illustration of Taiwan experiences with productive outcomes attributed to local government support and resource management.

Read More

Elimination of Hepatitis C Virus in a Dialysis Population: A Collaborative Care Model in Taiwan

Taiwan is reported to have one of the highest prevalence rates of HCV in Northeast Asia and one of the highest incidences and prevalence rates of treated kidney failure worldwide. To stop HCV transmission in hemodialysis facilities, this study developed a novel collaborative care model via active collaboration between 31 dialysis facilities under the jurisdiction of the Changhua Public Health Bureau (CHPHB) in Changhua County, Taiwan and gastroenterologists. This collaborative care model in Taiwan increased the rates of diagnosis and treatment for HCV in dialysis facilities.
Read More

Experience Sharing: Micro-elimination of HCV infection in the rural and remote areas of Taiwan

Populations living in mountains and rural areas in Taiwan have a higher rate of HCV and liver-related mortality rate. The inconvenience of transportation and unfamiliarity with the referral hospitals are the barriers to HCV screening and healthcare resources. The micro-elimination of HCV approach is a strategy aiming toward a specific at-risk population. This program experience shared the results of implementing a multidisciplinary care team in 4 HCV high epidemic rural townships in Taiwan, including the HCV screening, link-to-care, and success rates of DAA treatment.
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Experience Sharing: Micro-elimination of HCV infection in the rural and remote areas of Taiwan

Populations living in mountains and rural areas in Taiwan have a higher rate of HCV and liver-related mortality rate. The inconvenience of transportation and unfamiliarity with the referral hospitals are the barriers to HCV screening and healthcare resources. The micro-elimination of HCV approach is a strategy aiming toward a specific at-risk population. This program experience shared the results of implementing a multidisciplinary care team in 4 HCV high epidemic rural townships in Taiwan, including the HCV screening, link-to-care, and success rates of DAA treatment.