Cairo: Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said findings of a 2026 report issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) reaffirm Egypt's position as a global model in eliminating Hepatitis C, following a comprehensive health transformation led by the state over the past years.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Health Ministry Spokesman Hossam Abdel Ghaffar stated that the report serves as international recognition of Egypt's two-decade-long efforts, culminating in the national campaign to eliminate the virus during 2018-2019. Egypt moved from having one of the highest infection rates globally to becoming the first country to achieve the 'gold tier' status for eliminating the disease as a public health threat in October 2023. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi received the certification from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the spokesman said.

Egypt screened around 63 million citizens aged over 12 under the '100 Million Healthy Lives' initiative and treated more than 5.5 million patients, while reducing treatment costs from dlrs 900 to dlrs 40 through local manufacturing, achieving the highest annual diagnosis and treatment rates worldwide, according to the spokesman. He added that the report indicated the Eastern Mediterranean Region recorded the largest global decline in infection burden between 2015 and 2024, with cases dropping by about 6 million (34%), has been mainly driven by Egypt's large-scale efforts.

The report also highlighted Egypt's expanding regional role through supporting countries such as Ghana and Pakistan by providing treatment and sharing technical expertise. Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Health for Public Health Initiatives Mohamed Hassany said the international recognition provides strong momentum to further strengthen public health programs and expand preventive and therapeutic initiatives, in line with global efforts to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2030.