The WHO Representative to Egypt delivers a speech during the event in Cairo. Photo credit: WHO23 November 2025, Cairo, Egypt – Marking another milestone in Egypt’s journey towards a hepatitis-free future, the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), with the support of WHO Egypt, has launched the National Viral Hepatitis Elimination Sustainability Plan 2025–2030.
The Plan serves as a national roadmap to sustain Egypt’s remarkable progress towards full elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030.
In 2023, having fulfilled the programmatic requirements that facilitate the reduction of new hepatitis C infections and deaths to levels that position the country to end the hepatitis C epidemic, Egypt became the first country in the world to achieve WHO Gold Tier status on the path to hepatitis C elimination. In 2025, WHO recognized Egypt as the first country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to achieve the regional target for hepatitis B control.
The Hepatitis Elimination Sustainability Plan outlines strategies for long-term financing, integration within Egypt’s Universal Health Insurance (UHI) system, strengthening prevention and harm reduction services, ensuring continuity of care and enhancing surveillance and governance mechanisms.
The Plan was launched during an event that brought together representatives from MoHP, WHO, UN agencies, NGOs, the General Secretariat for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment, blood banks and academia. The launch aimed to secure political commitment, mobilize resources and catalyse multisectoral partnerships for sustained implementation.
Attendees discussed the Plan’s vision, strategic priorities, financing and multisectoral commitments towards WHO validation of full elimination by 2030.
“The Viral Hepatitis Elimination Sustainability Plan 2025–2030 reflects WHO’s core principles of service integration, accountability, equity and evidence-based decision-making. We recognize that sustaining these achievements requires continuous effort, particularly in reaching undiagnosed individuals, expanding harm reduction services, increasing hepatitis B treatment coverage and ensuring sustainable domestic financing,” said WHO Representative in Egypt Dr Nima Abid.
“We are confident that Egypt will continue its successful leadership in this new phase, building on strong partnerships between the government, civil society, the health sector and international partners. WHO reaffirms its full commitment to supporting the Ministry of Health and Population and all national partners until Egypt achieves full WHO validation for the elimination of viral hepatitis.”
