---
title: "Egypt is first country to keep WHO hepatitis C gold tier"
canonical: https://smallgoodthings.org/stories/egypt-keeps-who-gold-tier-hepatitis-c-2026/
sourceName: "WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean"
sourceUrl: "https://www.emro.who.int/media/news/egypt-is-the-first-country-globally-to-maintain-gold-tier-status-on-the-path-to-hepatitis-c-elimination.html"
datePublished: 2026-10-23T00:00:00.000Z
dateModified: 2026-10-23T00:00:00.000Z
---

# Egypt is first country to keep WHO hepatitis C gold tier

On 14 October 2026, the World Health Organization validated that Egypt has maintained its Gold Tier status on the path to eliminating hepatitis C. Egypt is the first country to keep this status. It first reached Gold Tier in 2023, after cutting hepatitis C prevalence from around 10% to under 0.38%.

## What did WHO confirm?

On 14 October 2026, WHO gave official validation that Egypt has maintained its Gold Tier status on the path to eliminating hepatitis C. Egypt is the first country in the world to keep this status.

According to Egypt Independent, WHO assessed Egypt's progress between 2023 and 2025. Its regional validation committee approved the assessment in July 2026.

## How did Egypt get here?

Egypt first achieved Gold Tier status in 2023. By then, it had reduced hepatitis C prevalence from around 10% to less than 0.38%.

The national 100 Million Healthy Lives campaign screened more than 60 million people and treated over 4.5 million hepatitis C patients, Egypt Independent reports. WHO says the campaign used locally produced direct-acting antiviral drugs.

## What has changed since the campaign?

Egypt has moved from large screening campaigns to routine care. Hepatitis C testing, diagnosis and treatment are now part of the permanent health system.

Hepatitis services have expanded through primary healthcare and universal health insurance. Egypt has also improved disease surveillance, laboratory standards and blood safety. A national plan covering 2025 to 2030 supports this work.

WHO says it provided technical support to Egypt throughout the programme. It says the aim now is to keep the systems that prevent hepatitis C from returning.

## What this does not mean

Gold Tier is a stage on the path to elimination. It does not mean that hepatitis C has been eliminated in Egypt. The sources do not give current case or death numbers.

Hepatitis C is a liver infection spread through blood. If you think you may have been exposed, ask a doctor or pharmacist about testing. In the UK, Health Answers explains [hepatitis symptoms, testing and NHS treatment](https://healthanswers.co.uk/conditions/hepatitis/); it has the same owner as Small Good Things.

## Reporting notes

We checked WHO's Eastern Mediterranean release of 14 October 2026 and an Egypt Independent report carrying a MENA byline. The screening and treatment totals come from that report and are cumulative campaign figures. Neither source gives current case numbers or the exact thresholds Egypt met for 2023 to 2025.

## Sources

- [WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean · 14 October 2026](https://www.emro.who.int/media/news/egypt-is-the-first-country-globally-to-maintain-gold-tier-status-on-the-path-to-hepatitis-c-elimination.html): WHO's official release validating that Egypt maintained Gold Tier status.
- [Egypt Independent (MENA) · 15 October 2026](https://www.egyptindependent.com/who-confirms-egypt-as-first-country-to-retain-hepatitis-c-gold-status/): Report covering the assessment period, the July 2026 committee approval and the 100 Million Healthy Lives campaign figures.

## Common questions

### Has Egypt eliminated hepatitis C?

Not yet. WHO has confirmed that Egypt maintained its Gold Tier status on the path to elimination, which it first achieved in 2023. This is a milestone towards elimination, not a declaration that the disease is gone.

### How did Egypt reduce hepatitis C?

Its 100 Million Healthy Lives campaign screened more than 60 million people and treated over 4.5 million hepatitis C patients, according to Egypt Independent. WHO says the campaign used locally produced direct-acting antiviral drugs.

Primary source: [WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean](https://www.emro.who.int/media/news/egypt-is-the-first-country-globally-to-maintain-gold-tier-status-on-the-path-to-hepatitis-c-elimination.html)