Fact sheet: WHO guidelines for the screening, care, and treatment of persons with hepatitis C infection

An estimated 150–180 million people are infected with hepatitis C globally; however, available hepatitis C treatments are complex and/or expensive, and many governments currently do not cover the costs of treatment. In April 2014, the World Health Organization published its first guidelines on screening, care, and treatment of hepatitis C infection to help government officials and healthcare providers in resource-limited settings establish effective programs to care for individuals infected with the virus.

This fact sheet briefly summarizes the guidelines’ major recommendations, including who should be offered screenings for hepatitis C infection, how to monitor and reduce liver damage in those who test positive, and how to treat patients co-infected with HIV.

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