Hepatitis C elimination progresses in Finland – testing and treatment are more readily available than before
In Finland, efforts to eliminate hepatitis C are being strengthened through a national project package, with regional projects being carried out in 18 wellbeing services counties. This year’s theme for World Hepatitis Day highlights the need to remove barriers to hepatitis prevention, testing and treatment. In Finland, this means above all bringing testing and treatment into the services that reach people at risk of hepatitis C infection.
Finland has committed to the World Health Organization WHO target of eliminating hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030. This target is being promoted through a national project package for hepatitis C elimination, which helps prevent new infections, promote early detection of infections and ensure access to treatment for everyone who needs it.
Testing and treatment close to people
In Finland, hepatitis C infections are mainly associated with injecting drug use. It is estimated that there are around 28,000 people who inject drugs in Finland, of whom an estimated 20–30 per cent have an active hepatitis C infection.
In the regional projects within the project package, testing and treatment are being integrated into the services used by people who inject drugs, such as health counselling points, substance abuse services, housing service units, and mobile and community-based outreach services.
A point-of-care test carried out using blood from a fingertip and indicating active hepatitis C infection is a key way to lower barriers to access to treatment. It enables an active infection to be diagnosed and treatment to be started in the same service that the person is already using. This significantly increases the accessibility of testing and treatment and reduces the risk of people being left outside the care pathway or dropping out of it.
With current tablet treatments taken once a day for 8–12 weeks, almost all hepatitis C infections can be cured.
Elimination efforts also strengthen other control of infectious diseases
In hepatitis C elimination work, testing is carried out not only for hepatitis C but also for HIV and hepatitis B, and hepatitis A and B vaccinations are offered. The operating model also strengthens infectious disease control more broadly.
The work is based on long-term cooperation and building trust with people who inject drugs. At the same time, it also supports the prevention of drug-related harms by improving the accessibility of services and reaching people who may previously have been left outside services.
Finland has a realistic opportunity to achieve the WHO 2030 target
Finland has hepatitis C point-of-care testing, effective medicinal treatments and operating models built in the wellbeing services counties. These have improved the accessibility of testing and treatment, especially among people who inject drugs.
The impacts of elimination efforts will strengthen over time. Every treated hepatitis C infection prevents new infections and brings Finland closer to the WHO 2030 target.
Finland has a realistic opportunity to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat, but achieving the target will still require long-term and determined work. As a result of this work, permanent operating models are being built in the wellbeing services counties, strengthening infectious disease control also in the future.
World Hepatitis Day is observed annually on 28 July.
Further information
Elimination of hepatitis C virus in Finland 2025–2027
Kirsi Liitsola
Senior Researcher
tel. 029 524 8832
email: [email protected]
Anne Arponen
Senior Specialist
tel. 029 524 6208
email: [email protected]
Henrikki Brummer-Korvenkontio
Research Manager
tel. 029 524 8455
email: [email protected]