The NHIA has included oral hepatitis C drugs into the NHI-covered medications since the beginning of 2017. The number of people who have taken this medication has reached 131,000 people as of the end of 2021. Such results are already half way to reach the goal of 250,000 chronic hepatitis C patients taking this oral drug by 2025.
For 2 to 3 months, patients taking the NHI-covered oral hepatitis C drug will have a cure rate of over 98%. Anyone who is unsure of whether they have Hepatitis C can receive an HCV screening. Taiwan’s government provides free screening for those aged 45 to 79, and 40 to 79 for indigenous peoples.
The NHIA calls on the public to use free screening for Hepatitis C prevention and urges those who already have Hepatitis C to receive treatments as soon as possible to lower risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.