Recently, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China was successfully approved as one of the initial cultivation organizations for the "Standardized AdvancementCapacity Improvement Project for Clinical Cure of Hepatitis B Outpatient Services" by the National Institute of Hospital Administration of National Health Commission. Organizedcarried out by the National Institute of Hospital Administration of National Health Commission at the end of 2023, this project aims to further promote standardized treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis B, improve the clinical cure skills of clinical doctors for hepatitis B, increase the clinical cure rate of patients with chronic hepatitis B,delay disease progression to cirrhosisliver cancer.

According to the latest estimates by the World Health Organization, in 2022, there were still 1.23 million new hepatitis B infections globally,1.1 million deaths caused by hepatitis B-associated diseases. It is estimated that in 2019, the age-standardized mortality rates in China due to acute hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis,other chronic liver diseasescancers caused by hepatitis B virus infection were 0.16 per 100,000 population, 2.16 per 100,000 population,5.76 per 100,000 population, respectively. Therefore, achieving a cure for hepatitis B remains a critical topicongoing challenge in the medical field.

The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China was successfully selected as one of the initial cultivation organizations for the Standardized AdvancementCapacity Improvement Project for Clinical Cure of Hepatitis B Outpatient Services by the National Institute of Hospital Administration of National Health Commission.

Relying on platforms such as the Key Clinical Specialty in Hunan Province, the Sub-center of the China Chronic Hepatitis B Clinical Cure (Everest) Project of the China Hepatitis PreventionControl Foundation,the Sub-center of the "Starlight Plan" for Clinical Cure of Hepatitis B of the China Liver Health, the Department of Infectious Diseases of the First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China selected experienced professional doctorsassistants to form a team to officially launch the hepatitis B clinical cure outpatient service in July 2023, incorporated the latest diagnostictherapeutic technologies. Aiming to maximize the clinical cure rate for patients with chronic hepatitis B, it formulates individualized treatment plansimplements a one-stop diagnostictreatment approach. Since the implementation of the Everest Project in 2018, the clinical cure rate has reached 40%, garnering recognitionpraise from peersexperts both withinoutside the province. This designation as a cultivation organization marks a significant advancement for the hospital in the field of hepatitis B clinical cure. The Department of Infectious Diseases • Liver Disease Research Center will take this as an opportunityrely on the hospitals large-scale medical center in southern Hunan to extend services to surrounding areas, demonstrate exemplary practices,continuously improve the diagnosis, treatment,cure rates of chronic hepatitis B, contributing to the national initiative of hepatitis B elimination,jointly build the dream of "clinical cure of hepatitis B".