England is reportedly on track to become one of the first countries in the world to eliminate hepatitis C.

The available evidence supports the central claim that England is on track to become one of the first countries to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health concern. NHS England reported in December 2022 that expanded testing and treatment had put England in a strong position to achieve elimination ahead of the World Health Organization’s 2030 target. The Independent, Medscape, LBC, and BBC News similarly described England as being on the cusp of, or on track toward, elimination.

More recent evidence is particularly relevant. NHS England reported in August 2026 that more than 100,000 people had been diagnosed and treated since direct-acting antiviral medicines were introduced in 2015. The Telegraph, also reporting on August 11, 2026, stated that England was already meeting the WHO benchmark that 80 percent of known cases should be treated by 2030. These sources indicate substantial progress and support the wording "on track."

However, the claim needs an important qualification. In this context, elimination means eliminating hepatitis C as a major public health threat, not eliminating every infection or preventing all future cases. The 2022 sources also predicted that England could achieve elimination by around 2025, but the supplied 2026 sources still describe the country as being close to or on track for elimination rather than confirming that formal elimination has already been certified. The evidence therefore supports the trajectory, but not a definitive claim that England has already eliminated hepatitis C or will certainly be the first country to do so.