Abstract

The article is based on the health technology assessment report completed in 2022 (hepatitis C elimination strategy assessment, TTH52), which provides an overview of which activities and for which target groups must be implemented in Estonia in order to achieve the goals of the WHO hepatitis C elimination strategy 2030. Based on evidence, it is expedient in Estonia to focus primarily on risk groups. Priority is given to people who inject drugs, who form a large part of those infected with HCV both in prisons and among those involved in prostitution and MSM. Risk groups should be reached both by prevention of infection, testing and immediate treatment and support. The cost-effectiveness and budget impact of these activities were also ated. Risk groups include an estimated 4,000 people in need of hepatitis C treatment in Estonia, whose cost of testing and HCV treatment would be 20.4 million euros on average. Testing and treating all people at risk at the same time is not possible due to resource limitations, making hepatitis C elimination a multi-year process. By testing and treating all risk groups, it would be possible to gain 10,485 quality-adjusted life years in the society and to achieve the goals of the hepatitis C elimination strategy by 2030.