Medlinker Launches 'Hundred-Hospital Hepatitis Strike' on World Hepatitis Day

This article is reposted from Guangming Online. Author: Yi Ming

During the ninth World Hepatitis Day (July 28), Medlinker joined forces with Gilead to launch the “Hundred-Hospital Containment Campaign,” a cross-sector initiative uniting medical institutions, enterprises, government agencies, and public welfare organizations in a concerted effort to eliminate hepatitis B and C. This nationwide screening and free clinic campaign targeted hepatitis B and C viruses. Over a period of two weeks, it spanned 72 cities across 29 provinces, engaging more than 1,000 medical professionals from over 120 hospitals and screening more than 20,000 individuals.

Authoritative data indicate that there are approximately 5.6 million hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in the general population of China; when including high-risk groups and high-prevalence regions, the number rises to approximately 10 million. There are approximately 93 million chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers, among whom about 20 million have chronic hepatitis B.

As the liver is a “silent” organ, many patients with liver cancer are diagnosed only at an advanced stage. The latent period of hepatitis C can last up to 20 years, and most individuals with acute infection remain asymptomatic. Experts believe that early detection and treatment, along with early screening, are crucial for the management and prevention of liver diseases.

During this public welfare hepatitis screening campaign, Dr. Zhang Lingyi, Director and Leading Specialist of the Department of Infectious Diseases at The Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, personally led her medical team in conducting free clinic services in the outpatient department. The event lasted throughout the entire day; even during the lunch break, members of the public continued to arrive upon hearing the news. A total of 450 individuals participated in the free consultation and screening throughout the day, setting a new record for the highest number of participants in any free clinic event held by the hospital.

At the free clinic site of Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, members of the public who came for free screening formed an endless queue; even some doctors, due to frequent occupational exposure, came forward for free testing.

Dr. Ning Bo, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Baoji Central Hospital, emphasized that the prevention and control of liver diseases are of paramount importance. More critically, it is essential to identify new cases as early as possible to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. Given that hepatitis C is now curable, if the public proactively undergoes screening, the therapeutic goal of “eliminating hepatitis C” will be within reach.

Dang Shuangsuo, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, believes that the prevention and control of hepatitis require concerted efforts from the entire society. It calls for more socially responsible enterprises to take the lead in initiating and rallying joint actions with medical institutions, thereby collectively fulfilling their respective social responsibilities and contributing to public health—a highly valuable and meaningful endeavor.

Since early 2018, Medlinker has been vigorously developing its internet hospital business. Chronic disease specialties have always been a hallmark of Medlinker’s internet hospital, with hepatology being a core area of focus since its inception.

In early 2018, Medlinker began piloting its liver disease-specialized internet hospital services, using hepatitis C as the entry point. Within a year, it brought together nearly 16,000 hepatologists across China, enabling thousands of hepatitis C patients to be cured. By the end of 2018, Gilead’s new hepatitis B medication was launched for sale; the first batch of drugs listed on Medlinker’s Cloud Pharmacy sold out completely within 20 minutes. This demonstrated that the internet hospital model can significantly improve access to innovative medicines.

Since then, Medlinker has successively partnered with renowned domestic insurance companies and public welfare organizations. Through initiatives such as Patient Assistance Programs (PAP), it alleviates patients’ financial burdens, while leveraging commercial insurance to manage disease-related risks. Spanning screening and prevention, diagnosis and treatment, follow-up management, patient education, and insurance coverage, Medlinker Internet Hospital strives to create a comprehensive, patient-centered solution.

In 2019, Medlinker Internet Hospital expanded from its specialized focus on hepatology to other medical specialties. It now covers multiple disease areas, including HIV, endocrinology, oncology, and orthopedics, gradually growing into one of the leading internet hospital platforms in China.