Challenges on the achievement of the World Health Organization goals for HCV elimination in Italy: Need for a Regional programmatic approach on screening and linkage to care

Abstract

Italy has been one of the countries with the greatest burden of HCV in Western Europe and with the highest number of HCV liver-related deaths. In order to achieve HCV elimination by 2030 Italy, like many other countries, will need to succeed in tackling the undiagnosed individuals with active HCV infection. To this aim beginning in 2021, a nationwide action has been implemented, consisting of the performance of screening tests among key populations and birth cohorts (1969-1989), estimated to have a high prevalence of undiagnosed individuals. The realization of the proactive screening during the first two years will define the tracks for the whole optimized screening strategy including also the 1948-1968 birth cohorts reported to be cost-effective in Italy in achieving the HCV elimination targets by 2030. Each Italian region needs to define the present and future steps to reach HCV elimination goal by 2030 guaranteeing the equity of care.