Treatment

Hepatitis C is a curable disease. Modern treatments allow more than 95% of people undergoing therapy to completely eliminate the virus.

When is treatment needed?

Acute hepatitis C is usually not treated, as the infection may clear up on its own within the first few months in some people.

However, if chronic hepatitis C is confirmed (the virus is present in the blood for more than 6 months), treatment is recommended for all patients regardless of the stage of liver damage, even in the absence of symptoms.

👉 The sooner treatment begins, the higher the chances of a full recovery and preventing complications.

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What treatment is used?

Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) tablets are used to treat chronic hepatitis C.

According to World Health Organization recommendations, pan-genotypic DAA regimens are used, which are suitable for most patients, specifically:

• for individuals aged 3 years and older;
• regardless of the virus genotype.
  

Key features of treatment:

• in most cases — 1 tablet once daily¹;
• Standard duration of treatment — 8–12 weeks;
• In some cases (severe fibrosis or cirrhosis), treatment may last up to 24 weeks.
  

PPIs block key viral proteins and enzymes necessary for the virus to replicate. Provided the medications are taken continuously throughout the treatment course¹, this leads to the complete elimination of the virus from the body.

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Efficacy and Safety

Modern antiretrovirals:

• ensure over 95% treatment efficacy;
• are generally well tolerated;
• have minimal side effects² (fatigue, headache, and nausea may occasionally occur).
  

Treatment effectiveness is assessed by:

• at week 12 of treatment;
• and 12 or 24 weeks after completion of the course.

The goal of therapy is to achieve a sustained virologic response (SVR 12).
This means that 12 weeks after the end of treatment, the hepatitis C virus is not detected in the blood by PCR.

👉 Achieving SVR12 means that the person has been cured of hepatitis C.

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Hepatitis C and HIV

Co-infection with HIV and hepatitis C is a serious challenge: globally, 2.3 million people (6.2% of HIV patients) are infected with both viruses. Since liver disease is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, early screening is vital. In Ukraine, the problem is most prevalent among key populations, particularly people who inject drugs. For this reason, the timely detection and treatment of hepatitis C in people living with HIV is a priority for the healthcare system

It is important to note that modern direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs:

• are effective and safe for people living with HIV;
• can be used concurrently with antiretroviral therapy (ART);
• enable the cure of hepatitis C in over 95% of patients, regardless of HIV status.
  

Treatment of hepatitis C in people with HIV³:

• recommended for all patients with confirmed chronic hepatitis C;
• is selected individually by the physician, taking into account the ART regimen and possible drug interactions;
• does not require deferral due to HIV infection.
  

Timely treatment of hepatitis C in people living with HIV significantly reduces the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer, improves quality of life, and improves prognosis.

Access to treatment in Ukraine

Hepatitis C treatments available in Ukraine:

• are available free of charge to Ukrainian citizens at designated healthcare facilities under the State Treatment Program (at the national, regional, and local levels; temporary supply interruptions are possible);
• You can check the availability of free medications in your region by following this link.
• also available at licensed pharmacy chains.
  

The treatment regimen, its duration, and monitoring are determined exclusively by a doctor.

1. Diet and lifestyle during treatment with the Sofosbuvir+Daclatasvir regimen
2. Diet and lifestyle during treatment with Sofosbuvir+Velpatasvir regimens
3. Consultation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with hepatitis B and C (monoinfection and co-infection with HIV, TB)

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Important Note

Even after successful treatment and achieving SVR12, reinfection with the hepatitis C virus is possible if a person continues to engage in high-risk behaviors.

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We’re here to help you navigate these steps calmly and clearly—from testing to the next steps.