"The cost of inaction is higher than the cost of action".
Despite the significant burden Hepatitis B places on communities across all global regions, governments and policymakers have largely ignored it as a health and development priority until recently. Most importantly, no major global health funder or international donor has committed to the goal of HBV elimination despite compelling evidence from modelling studies that scaling up prevention, testing and treatment would potentially avert 7.3 million HBV-related deaths globally by 2030.
While major barriers prevent countries from addressing HBV elimination, new opportunities have emerged to support programmes. This paper offers examples of successful models that countries have piloted to get started with HBV programming by focusing on prevention first, integrating HBV with existing programmes and service delivery systems, identifying efficiencies and cost savings, and finding creative ways of financing programmes. Ultimately, the time and need for increased investments in HBV elimination is now, the hope that other countries can build upon this momentum.
Download the White Paper here.
