The committee believes that implementation of its recommendations would lead to reductions in new HBV and HCV infections, in medical complications and deaths that result from these viral infections of the liver, and in total health costs. Advances in three major categories will be needed: in knowledge and awareness about chronic viral hepatitis among healthcare and social-service providers, the general public, and policy-makers; in improvement and better integration of viral hepatitis services, including expanded hepatitis B vaccination coverage; and in improvement of estimates of the burden of disease for resource-allocation purposes.