Hepatitis C-Free Europe is Possible by 2030

BRUSSELS, February 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Europe's leading experts, medical specialists and patient advocacy groups on hepatitis announced their intention to work towards the elimination of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in Europe by 2030.

The 'Hepatitis C Elimination Manifesto' was presented at the first EU HCV Policy Summit, organised by the Hepatitis B and C Public Policy Association, and supported by the main European patient and clinician groups.

Signatories of the 'Hepatitis C Elimination Manifesto' pledge to:

• Make hepatitis C and its elimination in Europe an explicit public health priority to be pursued at all levels
• Ensure that patients, civil society groups and other relevant stakeholders are directly involved in developing and implementing hepatitis C elimination strategies
• Pay particular attention to the links between hepatitis C and social marginalisation
• Introduce a European Hepatitis Awareness Week

Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, delivered a keynote speech at the event, commenting: "Hepatitis C has in the past been referred to as a "silent" epidemic within the European Union. It is high time that we brought this "silent" epidemic out of the shadows and into the light, so I welcome initiatives such as this Summit and the Elimination Manifesto to create momentum for action, for raising awareness and for stimulating discussion".

After twenty five years of research, scientists have delivered the means to effectively cure hepatitis C, paving the way for elimination in Europe within the next decade. "What would have taken a hundred years for us to achieve, is now at hand! This is a unique opportunity, but political action is needed to make this happen", stated Prof Angelos Hatzakis, Co-Chair of the Hepatitis B and C Public Policy Association. "Our 'Elimination Manifesto' is a rallying platform for policymakers and advocates. If we act now, Europe will be hepatitis C free by 2030", continued Prof Hatzakis.

The specific challenges of hepatitis C require holistic, people-centred, health system-wide approaches to disease awareness, prevention and integrated care, with all stakeholders combining their diverse skills and resources in a unified response.

"Succeeding against hepatitis C in Europe is even more important given the current international crises and refugee flows towards our countries", explained Cristian-Silviu Buşoi, Member of the European Parliament and Co-chair of the Parliament's Friends of the Liver group. Buşoi continued: "Elimination strategies need to take into consideration the links between hepatitis C and marginalised groups, such as recent migrants, people who inject drugs and others."

"The Manifesto sets out our vision and commitment to eliminate hepatitis C in Europe", declared Prof Michael P. Manns, Co-Chair of the Hepatitis B and C Public Policy Association, "concrete actions at all levels must follow to achieve our goal". The Manifesto will be presented to national and local governments as well as to the European institutions to encourage action.

Signatories 

The Elimination Manifesto is supported by the following organisations:

• European Liver Patients Association (ELPA)
• European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL)
• Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board (VHPB)
• The Correlation Network
• The International Center for Migration Health and Development (ICMHD)
• The World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA)
• Hepatitis B and C Public Policy Association

About Hepatitis C in Europe 

• In the EU more people die each year from HCV than from HIV.
• HCV is 7 times more prevalent than HIV in Europe.
• An estimated 15 million Europeans are chronically infected, including 5.5 million living in EU; each year there are 27,000-29,000 newly diagnosed HCV cases in the EU/EEA.
• Existing evidence shows that, for some European countries, annual deaths from HCV have quadrupled over the past 20 years.

About the first EU HCV Summit 

The EU HCV Summit was organised by the Hepatitis B & C Public Policy Association in partnership with European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), the Eurpean Liver Patient Association (ELPA) and the Correlation Network. It was financially supported by AbbVie, BMS, Gilead and MSD. The Summit, which was attended by 120 policymakers and stakeholders from across Europe and beyond, was officially endorsed by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the International Centre for Migration, Health and Development (ICMHD), the European Parliament Friends of the Liver Group and the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA).

About Hepatitis B & C Public Policy Association 

The Hepatitis B & C Public Policy Association was founded in 2009 by a group of leading European scientists, public health experts and patient advocates. We aim to urge and facilitate the formulation of public policies at national and international level for the communication, prevention and management of viral Hepatitis B and C. The Association's unique approach in furtherance of this aim is to gather together, and work in partnership with, the major stakeholders in the field of these diseases including regulators, patients, clinicians, public health and civil society communities and the private sector. For more information about the Association's activities please visit http://www.hepbcppa.org

For more information, please contact:
Ann Fox, Hepatitis B & C Public Policy Association
afox@hepbcppa.org
19 rue Eugène Ruppert
L-2453 Luxembourg
Tel: +39-339-65-96-105