The new hepatitis B guidelines are an important step towards achieving the targets to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. Implementation of the new guidelines will result in an increase of the number of people living with hepatitis B who can access treatment from 8-15% to 50%.  

However, new data from WHO estimates that 254 million people are living with hepatitis B worldwide, but only 13% of those have been diagnosed and 2-6% treated. Deaths from hepatitis B are also increasing, with 1.1 million people dying from hepatitis B in 2022, an increase from 0.82 million in 2020. 

While the WHA welcomes the expanded eligibility, we are calling for a treat all approach for hepatitis B to address growing mortality and achieve elimination targets by 2030.  Hepatitis B elimination can only be achieved if there is a substantial scale up in hepatitis B treatment and treatment guidelines respond to the needs of people living with hepatitis B.