RIVM calls for earlier detection of hepatitis B and C
A new national plan aims to reduce the number of undetected and untreated infections by 2030.
RIVM is calling for more vaccination, targeted testing and better registration of hepatitis B and C. According to the new National Hepatitis Plan, people at increased risk are still too often not tested or do not know they are infected.
The plan runs from 2026 to 2030 and was drawn up at the request of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, together with organisations in the field. Its objective is in line with the World Health Organization’s ambition to reduce viral hepatitis as a public health problem.
RIVM estimates that around 59,000 people in the Netherlands have chronic hepatitis B. Estimates for chronic hepatitis C range from 6,000 to 25,000 people. An estimated 450 to 500 people die each year from the consequences of a hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection. The institute stresses that these are estimates, not complete counts.
Hepatitis B and C can cause few or no symptoms for years. A chronic infection can later lead to serious liver disease or liver cancer. Vaccination and treatments are available for hepatitis B that can suppress the virus; according to RIVM, hepatitis C can be treated effectively in many cases.
The plan therefore focuses on greater attention to vaccination and information, as well as more testing through GPs and municipal health services (GGD). The emphasis is on people from countries where hepatitis is more common, men who have sex with men, people who use drugs and people in detention. These are groups at increased risk, not a judgement about individuals.
According to RIVM, one problem is that the Netherlands does not centrally record how many people have been tested and treated. This makes it harder to determine where people drop out of the healthcare chain. The institute also cites funding and the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic as reasons why previous targets were not fully achieved.
The plan is a policy proposal, not individual medical advice. Whether testing or vaccination is needed in a particular situation depends on personal circumstances and should be discussed with a healthcare provider. RIVM also says that further research is still needed to support the proposed approach.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- RIVM has published a National Hepatitis Plan for 2026–2030.
- The plan focuses on vaccination, information, testing, treatment and better registration.
- The scale of chronic hepatitis B and C is partly based on estimates.
- The Netherlands does not yet have a central overview of all testing and treatment.
Left
Arguments The approach should primarily remove barriers to accessing testing and care. Active case-finding, public funding and cooperation with municipal health services are needed to reach groups that would otherwise remain out of sight.
Values Equal access, prevention and protection of vulnerable groups.
Consequences Greater public involvement may initially entail additional costs, but could limit late-stage illness and health inequalities.
Centre
Arguments Targeted testing and vaccination make more sense than a general campaign for everyone. A central registration system could help, provided privacy, feasibility and responsibilities are properly arranged in advance.
Values Efficiency, medical proportionality and institutional reliability.
Consequences A phased approach could be implemented quickly, but requires ongoing funding and good data quality.
Right
Arguments The government should direct available resources towards demonstrable risk groups and prevent registration from turning into unfocused bureaucracy. Information and personal responsibility should accompany public measures.
Values Efficiency, privacy and limited government intervention.
Consequences A targeted approach could be cheaper and less burdensome, but might miss people who fall outside known risk profiles.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The policy objectives and figures were checked directly against the new RIVM plan. The text explicitly identifies estimates and avoids medical conclusions for individual readers.
- confirmed The National Hepatitis Plan runs from 2026 to 2030. — Confirmed by the RIVM publication. source
- confirmed Around 59,000 people have chronic hepatitis B and 6,000 to 25,000 people have chronic hepatitis C. — The figures are presented as estimates in the RIVM plan. source
- confirmed An estimated 450 to 500 people die each year from the consequences of hepatitis B or C. — Taken from the RIVM plan as an estimate. source
- confirmed Chronic hepatitis can cause serious liver disease and liver cancer. — Described in RIVM’s summary. source
- confirmed The Netherlands has no central system recording the number of people tested and treated. — RIVM identifies this as a shortcoming in the current approach. source
Editor's note
The policy proposals and Dutch estimates come from the RIVM plan. The figures are estimates, and the precise size of the group with an undetected infection remains uncertain.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „hepatitis hepatitis b”
- AD — „hepatitis hepatitis b”
- de Volkskrant — „hepatitis hepatitis b”