Ahead of the US, China, Russia, and Germany, WHO confirms an African nation as the world first to retain gold-tier status on the path to hepatitis C elimination

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially validated that Egypt maintained its Gold Tier status on the path to hepatitis C elimination. This validation makes Egypt the first nation globally to earn and sustain this status, reaching a health milestone ahead of major industrial powers including the US, UK, China, Russia, France, and Germany.

• Egypt has been officially validated by WHO for maintaining its Gold Tier status in hepatitis C elimination, making it the first country in the world to achieve and sustain this milestone.
• Between 2013 and 2023, Egypt reduced hepatitis C prevalence from about 10% to under 0.38%.
• This rapid progress places Egypt ahead of major industrial nations like the US, UK, China, Russia, France, and Germany in eliminating hepatitis C.
• A nationwide campaign, supported by strong political commitment, tested over 60 million people and treated more than 4.5 million using locally produced antiviral drugs.

The WHO Regional Validation Committee formally endorsed Egypt's progress following an in-depth review of health data from 2023 through 2025.

Egypt sets global health benchmark ahead of US, UK, China, Russia, France, and Germany

Egypt's success represents one of the most rapid turnarounds in disease control ever documented.

In just over ten years, the African nation slashed its hepatitis C prevalence from approximately 10% down to under 0.38%.

This dramatic reduction enabled Egypt to become the first country to earn WHO Gold Tier validation in 2023, and its continued progress through 2026 keeps it ahead of top economies like the US, UK, China, Russia, France, and Germany in meeting international health targets.

As stated by the WHO, Egypt's sustained efforts mean that "countless lives have been impacted by Egypt's sustained action against hepatitis, with millions of people protected from infection, families protected from the loss of loved ones and an entire generation given the opportunity to lead healthier lives".

How Egypt achieved and maintained WHO gold tier status

The primary driver behind this health victory was the nationwide "100 million seha" (healthy lives) campaign.

Through strong political backing, the initiative tested over 60 million people and delivered curative care to more than 4.5 million patients using locally manufactured direct-acting antiviral drugs.

According to the WHO, preserving this momentum "reflects the commitment of the Ministry of Health and Population to sustaining high impact prevention, testing, treatment and follow-up services and to strengthening the surveillance and systems needed to prevent a resurgence of hepatitis C".

The WHO noted that Egypt has transitioned from mass screening drives to integrating viral hepatitis care directly into its primary healthcare network and universal health insurance program under its 2025–2030 National Sustainability Plan.