The Government today announced its Hong Kong Viral Hepatitis Action Plan 2025-2030, which introduces a new risk-based hepatitis B screening programme and other measures to strengthen prevention and control of viral hepatitis.

The measures are designed to reduce the transmission of viral hepatitis and lower related morbidity and mortality, including deaths from liver cancer attributable to viral hepatitis.

The target is to eliminate the public health threat posed by viral hepatitis by 2030, in line with the World Health Organization’s global goal. 

According to data from the Hong Kong Cancer Registry, liver cancer is the third largest cause of cancer deaths in Hong Kong. In 2023, there were 1,408 deaths from liver cancer, accounting for 9.5% of all cancer deaths. Over 70% of hepatocellular carcinoma cases were associated with hepatitis B.

In addition to the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority, the action plan also enlists the Primary Healthcare (PHC) Commission and other relevant organisations.

It is estimated that approximately 410,000 people in Hong Kong have hepatitis B. Among these, 40% are unaware of their condition and 70% are not receiving appropriate follow-up care.

The action plan will bolster efforts to prevent and control viral hepatitis along four strategic axes, namely heightening awareness, tracking the health sector’s response, preventing new infections, and expanding access to screening, care and treatment.

The PHC Commission will launch a Chronic Disease Co-care Platform to introduce risk-based hepatitis B screening and management on a pilot basis, in addition to testing for high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol.

It will target Hong Kong residents born in or before 1988 whose family members or sexual partners have contracted chronic hepatitis B, as well as residents who have no known medical history of chronic hepatitis B or related symptoms.

A participant diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B through the platform will receive subsidised medical consultations, medication and liver ultrasonography services, and undergo regular liver cancer surveillance.