January is observed in the Philippines as Liver Cancer and Viral Hepatitis Awareness and Prevention Month under Republic Act No. 10526. During the observance, health authorities warn that chronic hepatitis B and C remain among the leading drivers of liver cancer in the country.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) through GLOBOCAN 2022, the Philippines recorded 12,544 new liver cancer cases and 11,653 deaths in 2022, placing liver cancer among the country’s top causes of cancer mortality.
The World Health Organization has repeatedly emphasized that viral hepatitis often progresses silently, with many patients remaining undiagnosed until advanced liver disease or cancer develops. As a result, January campaigns led by the Department of Health and partner institutions focus on hepatitis B vaccination, hepatitis C screening, and early detection of liver cancer among high-risk populations.
Health officials consistently stress that prevention and early screening, rather than late-stage treatment, offer the strongest chance of reducing avoidable deaths.
STATISTICS: IARC GLOBOCAN PHILIPPINES
Why viral hepatitis remains central to liver cancer risk
Liver cancer prevention in the Philippines remains closely tied to viral hepatitis control. According to WHO, chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C cause most cases of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide.
In its Global Hepatitis Report 2024, WHO reported that 304 million people globally were living with chronic hepatitis B or C in 2022, and that viral hepatitis caused approximately 1.3 million deaths, largely from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
WHO has also identified the Philippines as having a high burden of chronic hepatitis B within the Western Pacific Region. A 2025 peer-reviewed economic evaluation of hepatitis B elimination strategies in the Philippines estimated that chronic hepatitis B prevalence reached 9.7 percent in 2017, equivalent to roughly 10 million Filipinos. The study warned that liver-related complications may continue to rise without stronger prevention and diagnosis efforts.
As a result, public-health messaging during January consistently frames hepatitis control as a cancer-prevention strategy rather than a narrow infectious-disease concern.
Vaccination at birth remains the strongest preventive tool
Among available interventions, hepatitis B vaccination remains the most effective and affordable form of liver cancer prevention. According to DOH immunization guidance, newborns should receive the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth, followed by completion of the vaccine series.
Republic Act No. 10152 mandates basic immunization services for infants and children and includes hepatitis B vaccination. WHO underscores that infection acquired at birth or early childhood carries the highest risk of chronic hepatitis, which significantly increases the likelihood of cirrhosis and liver cancer later in life.
Nevertheless, WHO’s Philippines office has previously noted gaps in timely birth-dose coverage, particularly in areas with home births, limited cold-chain capacity, or delayed post-delivery care. Consequently, community outreach during January often prioritizes prenatal counseling, facility readiness, and clear reminders that the birth dose is time-critical rather than optional.
Screening shifts toward earlier detection of liver cancer
While vaccination reduces future risk, screening addresses existing danger. In late 2025, PhilHealth issued Circular No. 2025-0026, which sets quality standards for liver cancer screening among high-risk individuals.
Under the policy, liver ultrasound serves as the primary screening tool and is recommended every six months for eligible patients, including those with chronic hepatitis B or C and other established risk factors. PhilHealth requires screening to take place in DOH-licensed and PhilHealth-accredited facilities and to include proper counseling and referral for abnormal results.
PhilHealth also clarified that alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing may complement ultrasound to improve detection in high-risk patients, although AFP alone should not serve as a stand-alone screening test. This approach signals a shift from symptom-driven detection to structured, risk-based surveillance that aligns with international clinical standards.
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DOST-HTA signals growing support for financed screening
Screening policies succeed only when patients can afford them. In 2025, the Department of Science and Technology – Health Technology Assessment Council released an assessment recommending consideration of biannual ultrasound combined with AFP for hepatocellular carcinoma screening among high-risk adults.
The assessment cited the country’s high liver cancer burden using GLOBOCAN 2022 data and emphasized the value of standardized, publicly financed surveillance. While the recommendation does not automatically guarantee universal coverage, it signals that policymakers increasingly evaluate early detection not only as a clinical priority but also as a financing decision.
As a result, January awareness campaigns increasingly frame screening as a realistic pathway within the national health system rather than a purely aspirational recommendation.
Hepatitis C: a curable disease still missed
If hepatitis B prevention relies on vaccination, hepatitis C control depends on early diagnosis and cure. According to WHO, direct-acting antiviral medicines can cure hepatitis C in most patients, often within 8 to 12 weeks.
A 2024 review published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology reported sustained virologic response rates exceeding 95 percent with modern antiviral regimens. In the Philippines, DOH clinical guidance outlines treatment using sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, including for patients with HIV co-infection, and regional advisories have confirmed medicine availability in selected public facilities.
Despite these advances, WHO continues to identify low testing coverage as the main barrier, as many people with hepatitis C remain asymptomatic and never undergo screening. Consequently, January outreach emphasizes testing and referral, not awareness alone.
Community outreach brings services closer to primary care
January campaigns also highlight the importance of integrating hepatitis services into primary health care. WHO has documented demonstration projects in the Philippines that strengthened hepatitis B diagnosis and treatment at the primary level, improved referral pathways, and linked patients to higher-level care for cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Peer-reviewed implementation studies show that decentralizing services improves case detection and continuity of care, particularly when paired with community education and health-worker training. Local government units play a central role in translating national guidance into accessible services, from barangay-based vaccination reminders to facility-level screening referrals.
As a result, the effectiveness of January campaigns often depends less on message volume and more on whether communities can act immediately on the information provided.
Global evidence reinforces local urgency
Globally, WHO’s Global Hepatitis Report 2024 reported that hepatitis-related deaths have increased since 2019 despite the availability of effective vaccines and treatments. WHO attributed the rise largely to delayed diagnosis and limited treatment coverage, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Philippine data reflect similar challenges, where late presentation remains common and treatment often begins only after serious liver damage occurs. According to GLOBOCAN 2022, liver cancer continues to rank among the country’s leading causes of cancer death.
Prevention works only when it reaches people early
Liver Cancer and Viral Hepatitis Awareness and Prevention Month serves as a public-health checkpoint rather than a symbolic observance. WHO evidence shows that liver cancer often represents the late outcome of infections acquired decades earlier, while Philippine data reveal persistently high mortality because prevention and screening still miss too many people.
The message of January remains practical: timely hepatitis B vaccination at birth, early testing for hepatitis B and C, and consistent surveillance for those at risk can prevent cancers that would otherwise prove fatal.
Awareness alone, however, is not enough. Vaccines must reach newborns on time, tests must remain affordable and accessible, and referral systems must function beyond diagnosis. Ultimately, the success of January’s campaigns will be measured not by slogans, but by how many people receive protection, testing, and follow-up before liver cancer becomes a diagnosis of last resort.
