Hepatitis - Clinton Health Access Initiative

The Issue

Viral hepatitis— hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV) — affects more than 320 million people worldwide, with 90 percent of infections concentrated in low- and middle-income countries. The disease leads to significant liver damage, liver cancer, and liver failure. Although HCV is curable in more than 95 percent of patients with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), only seven percent of those infected receive treatment. Many factors contribute to this gap, including limited awareness of HCV, lack of public screening and treatment programs, and historically high costs of care. Similarly, HBV is vaccine-preventable, yet impacts more than 250 million people worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries, only a fraction of those in need receive the vaccine as infants or treatment as adults.

CHAI's Approach

CHAI is committed to eliminating HCV. We have developed a strategy that aims to cure over 16 million people in 34 countries over the next ten years. Since 2015, CHAI has helped governments in six countries initiate public HCV programs to simplify patient diagnosis and monitoring and lower the costs of medications to save millions of lives. We have helped, through market shaping and price negotiations, lower the cost of treatment by 81 to 97 percent (depending on the country), from an average of US$2,618 to as low as US$60 per cure. Since the program’s inception, over 100,000 patients have been initiated on treatment in the countries where we work. This initial push has demonstrated effective models that can serve as guides to the countries that follow.

To help prevent new HBV infections, we are partnering with Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, as well as governments, to organize programs to administer the HBV birth dose more effectively. We are leveraging existing relationships with national HIV, HCV and maternal health/antenatal care programs to support the integration of HBV diagnosis and treatment within already established systems.

Results

US$60

HCV cost-per-cure, reduced from US$2,618

97%

price reduction in cost-per-patient treated for HCV

+100K

patients treated for HCV through CHAI support

Our Work

Three delivery room nurses stand arm in arm outside a clinic. The woman in the middle wears a white uniform and the women on either side of her wear pink. All are smiling.

December 20, 2020

Closing the gap: A year of progress amidst the global pandemic

Revisit our most popular blog posts from 2020, as we highlight the challenges and successes of our work over the last year.

Two health workers sit at a desk strewn with papers. On the other side, two patients, their backs to the camera. Hai Duong Provincial HIV/AIDS Center, Vietnam.

December 16, 2020

Simplified approach to hepatitis C testing, treatment shows promise in seven countries

A new article published in BMJ Global Health details results of five years of CHAI support to governments as they initiate and scale up hepatitis C programs across seven low- and middle-income countries.

July 28, 2020

World Hepatitis Day 2020: finding the missing millions

This World Hepatitis Day, even as we pivot to respond to COVID-19, we cannot neglect the ongoing needs of people with chronic illnesses, such as viral hepatitis.

May 26, 2020

CHAI’s first-ever HCV Market Report provides new insights to guide elimination efforts

The report provides an overview of the supplier landscape for WHO recommended drugs and diagnostics, outlines supply and pricing trends, highlights global benchmark prices, and suggests ways in which low- and middle-income countries can access testing and treatment at more affordable prices.

December 20, 2020

Closing the gap: A year of progress amidst the global pandemic

Revisit our most popular blog posts from 2020, as we highlight the challenges and successes of our work over the last year.

December 16, 2020

Simplified approach to hepatitis C testing, treatment shows promise in seven countries

A new article published in BMJ Global Health details results of five years of CHAI support to governments as they initiate and scale up hepatitis C programs across seven low- and middle-income countries.

July 28, 2020

World Hepatitis Day 2020: finding the missing millions

This World Hepatitis Day, even as we pivot to respond to COVID-19, we cannot neglect the ongoing needs of people with chronic illnesses, such as viral hepatitis.

May 26, 2020

CHAI’s first-ever HCV Market Report provides new insights to guide elimination efforts

The report provides an overview of the supplier landscape for WHO recommended drugs and diagnostics, outlines supply and pricing trends, highlights global benchmark prices, and suggests ways in which low- and middle-income countries can access testing and treatment at more affordable prices.

Join Our Team

CHAI is looking for dynamic and self-motivated individuals who are committed to strengthening health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other illnesses.

View All CHAI Positions View Program Positions

Join Our Team

CHAI is looking for dynamic and self-motivated individuals who are committed to strengthening health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other illnesses.

View All CHAI Positions View Program Positions