Impact of alternative hepatitis C virus screening strategies among persons in custody in Hong Kong on projected disease burden. Credit: The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2026.101838
A recent study led by the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), in collaboration with the Correctional Services Department, has demonstrated that mass screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among persons in custody (PICs) is a cost-effective strategy. By enabling early identification and treatment of infected PICs, this approach can offer measurable health benefits. The data provide strong evidence to support the implementation of systematic prison-based HCV screening in Hong Kong. The findings are published in The Lancet Regional Health—Western Pacific.
The hidden burden of HCV in correctional settings
"HCV infection can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and death. By 2024, only 36% of people living with HCV had been diagnosed, and only 20% had received curative treatment. HCV-related mortality in Hong Kong has continued to rise over the past decade. Targeted screening for high-risk groups is a key strategy for HCV micro-elimination, helping to achieve the World Health Organization's (WHO) goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030," said Professor Yuen Man-fung, chair professor and chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed, and a member of the Steering Committee on the Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis.
