Since 2011, 308,129 people have been screened for Hepatitis B and C in Taoyuan City, achieving a screening coverage rate of 33.8%. Among the number, 202,258 people were screened last year (2021), indicating that there is a raise in the public’s awareness on screening. However, there remains more than 620,000 people that have not received screening for Hepatitis B and C. Director Wang, Wen-Yen of Department of Public Health, Taoyuan reminded the public not to let go of their rights and interests, and that there is availability of a free Hepatitis B and C screening service for life as long as you are 45 to 79 years old (40 to 79 years old for indigenous people). Please carry the health insurance card with you and visit one of the 502 adult preventive healthcare contract clinics and 13 district public health centers or community integrated health screening activities of the city to receive a free blood test for hepatitis screening.
Life becomes meaningless when you have a bad liver. In 2021, about 321 people died from chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis in Taoyuan City. Liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death. After infection with Hepatitis B and C, 1 in 4 people will have cirrhosis, and after cirrhosis, 1 in 20 people will develop liver cancer as complication. Given that the early stage of Hepatitis C is almost asymptomatic, it is important for people to not underrate and ignore the seriousness of the disease. The traditional treatment of Hepatitis C includes injection of interferon combined with antiviral medication, which shows more prominent side effects (e.g. tiredness, gastrointestinal symptoms, fever, headache, hair loss, depression). In recent years, new oral medications for Hepatitis C have become available, which have fewer side effects; moreover, the full treatment with the new oral medication has been offered free on health insurance since 2019. The Health Bureau reminded the public that if your screening result for Hepatitis C is positive, and the subsequent viral load test is also positive, medical treatment should be sought as soon as possible. Dr. Tsai, Tsung-Lung of Department of Hepatology of Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare said that the current cure rate of the new Hepatitis C oral medication has achieved above 97%, the medication period is only 8 to 12 weeks, and it is a pan-genotypic drug with low side effects. The public is invited to take part in the screening and receive treatment.
The Department of Public Health, Taoyuan informed citizens that information regarding the screening for Hepatitis C can be found on the health screening section of the Department of Public Health, Taoyuan’s website (https://health.tychb.gov.tw/tyhpPublic/), or consultation can be made with 13 district health centers. The screening for hepatitis is free of charge; the registration fee is in accordance with individual hospital or clinic’s charging standards. Loving yourself begins with hepatitis screening; just a little time to spend on a blood test, you can protect your own health and have a colorful and meaningful life.