Strategies to reduce HCV disease burden and HCV transmission need different models, as what works for end-stage liver disease may not work for HCV prevalence: a comment on the results presented in JVH Special Issue

It is a truism, but important nonetheless to recognize that all models simplify. The critical question is whether the model projections are useful. Different types of models can answer different questions, and no model can answer everything. Some simplifying assumptions are justified – and can be shown in sensitivity analyses to have little impact on model projections – whereas others could lead to wrong conclusions being drawn.