Since 2015, the year the treatment of this disease was started with direct action antivirals for all patients, 24,934 treatments were authorised until 30 June, of which 23,111 have already been started and 18,751 have been completed.

Infarmed data updated up to July 25 showed that 25,089 treatments have been registered and 23,181 started. Of the patients who completed the treatment 13,895 are cured and 507 are uncured.

The average time to authorise treatment was 26 days on 30 June and the average time to start treatment was 72 days, according to the report, which will be published today in Lisbon as part of the "Portugal Towards the elimination of Hepatitis C" event, which takes place in the context of the World Day against Hepatitis, celebrated on 28 July.

"The treatment of hepatitis C with direct-acting antivirals has been made available to all people infected with hepatitis C viruses eligible under the terms of the Clinical Guidance Standard, with cure rates higher than 96%", the report added.

Hepatitis C is a "silent disease" and the vast majority of patients "have no complaints or symptoms", which makes it difficult to diagnose.

In this sense, the infectious disease specialist called on those who had "changes in liver tests", had got tattoos, used injectable drugs or "other actions" in which perforating or cutting materials were used, without taking the necessary safety precautions, to perform the test.