In 2023, Egypt was hailed as the first country on track to completely eradicate hepatitis C by 2030 by the World Health Organization (WHO), a remarkable achievement that was described by the WHO’s director-general as “nothing short of astounding.”
The success in Egypt can be attributed to Dr. Khaled Kabil who has been leading the charge against hepatitis C since 2006 as the head of the National Committee for Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis. Under his leadership, Egypt launched a nationwide testing and treatment campaign that brought down the prevalence of hepatitis C in the country below 1%.
One of the key factors in Egypt’s progress was the availability of affordable antiviral drugs, thanks to a deal that allowed the country to purchase them at a discounted price and manufacture generic versions locally for even less. Additionally, Kabil oversaw the establishment of 150 treatment centers across Egypt which provided care to millions of people.
Egypt’s success in combatting hepatitis C has been so significant that it began donating antiviral drugs to other African nations, in a bid to extend its impact beyond its borders and contribute to global health efforts on a larger scale. Through these initiatives, Egypt is not only improving its own population’s health and well-being but also playing a crucial role in advancing public health on a global scale.