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Med. Infect. Dis.","TropicalMed"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The World Health Organization targets hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination as a public-health threat by 2030. Phetchabun province, in lower northern Thailand, has historically reported one of the country\u2019s highest HCV seroprevalence rates. We describe a province-wide, decentralized test-to-treat micro-elimination program implemented within Thailand\u2019s universal health-coverage system. Adults aged 35\u201364 years (2020\u20132024) and individuals born before 1992 (late 2023) across all 11 districts were screened using fingerstick anti-HCV rapid diagnostic tests at sub-district health-promoting hospitals. Reactive participants underwent confirmatory HCV-RNA testing at three regional nodes. Eligible patients received pangenotypic sofosbuvir\/velpatasvir for 12 weeks, with ribavirin added for cirrhosis. Sustained virological response at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12) was the primary outcome. Of 400,567 targeted individuals, 389,547 (97.3%) were screened; 18,340 (4.71%) were anti-HCV reactive. Confirmatory HCV-RNA testing was completed in 14,845 (80.9%), of whom 10,996 (74.1%) had active infection. Of 8961 treatment-eligible patients, 8842 (98.7%) received DAA therapy. Among 6719 evaluable for SVR12, 6474 (96.4%) achieved cure. This simplified, domestically financed, decentralized test-to-treat model achieved WHO-target-level diagnosis, treatment, and cure rates at provincial scale, offering a scalable framework for HCV micro-elimination in low- and middle-income countries.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/tropicalmed11080215","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T01:43:27Z","timestamp":1785721407000},"page":"215","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Achieving Hepatitis C Micro-Elimination in a High-Burden Province of Thailand: The Phetchabun Model"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"given":"Wijitra","family":"Phaengkha","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Nam Nao Hospital, Nam Nao District, Phetchabun 67260, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2250-0017","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pornjarim","family":"Nilyanimit","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nungruthai","family":"Suntronwong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiratchaya","family":"Puenpa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-5524-4626","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Duong Hoang Huy","family":"Le","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand"},{"name":"Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department, Fundamental Sciences and Basic Medical Sciences, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh 72510, Vietnam"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Saranya","family":"Ngamnimit","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Phetchabun Provincial Public Health Office, Mueang Phetchabun, Phetchabun 67000, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pattama","family":"Janpathip","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Phetchabun Provincial Public Health Office, Mueang Phetchabun, Phetchabun 67000, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lapasrada","family":"Kamput","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Phetchabun Hospital, Mueang Phetchabun, Phetchabun 67000, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kawin","family":"Thongnoi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Buengsamphan Hospital, Buengsamphan, Phetchabun 67160, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wanalee","family":"Toomta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Lomsak Hospital, Lomsak, Phetchabun 67110, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Phatcha","family":"Wohanklong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chondaen Hospital, Chondaen, Phetchabun 67150, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jarunlak","family":"Saokeaw","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nam Nao Hospital, Nam Nao District, Phetchabun 67260, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Niphapornt","family":"Thammajit","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Si Thep Hospital, Si Thep, Phetchabun 67170, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Suwannee","family":"Rerngleum","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Wang Pong Hospital, Wang Pong, Phetchabun 67240, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ananyalak","family":"Yoisara","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Wichianburi Hospital, Wichianburi, Phetchabun 67130, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nitiya","family":"Srisuk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Lomkao Crown Prince Hospital, Lom Kao, Phetchabun 67120, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jidapa","family":"Suwannachat","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Nongphai Hospital, Nong Phai, Phetchabun 67140, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anchalee","family":"Karagate","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Khao Kho Hospital, Khao Kho, Phetchabun 67270, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rujipat","family":"Wasitthankasem","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand Science Park, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2337-6807","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yong","family":"Poovorawan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand"},{"name":"The Royal Society of Thailand, Sanam Sueapa, Dusit, Bangkok 10300, Thailand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2025, December 22). 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