First Major European Viral Hepatitis Study Reports Serious Gaps in Policies
BERLIN, December 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --
ELPA presents the stark findings of the 2016 Hep-CORE Report
Fifty-two per cent (52%) of surveyed European (25) and Mediterranean Basin (2) countries lack national strategies to address viral hepatitis B or C despite the WHO World Health Assembly resolution calling on all countries to have one. Only three of these countries have access to the new, highly effective medicines (direct-acting antivirals) for hepatitis C without restrictions.
These are just two sobering results from the 2016 Hep-CORE Report on the state of viral hepatitis policy and practice in Europe, released by the European Liver Patients Association (ELPA) today.
The Report was conducted under the direction of Prof. Jeffrey V. Lazarus, University of Barcelona. According to Lazarus, 2016 was a turning point for viral hepatitis with the adoption of the first-ever WHO Global health sector strategy on viral hepatitis.
The Hep-CORE results serve as a gap analysis, clearly showing where there are deficient policies. Background: The reduction to zero of the incidence of hepatitis C in defined risk groups would be possible in the coming years.
For example, despite an urgent need for broad monitoring and disease surveillance, 17 countries have no national hepatitis B virus (HBV) register and 15 countries have no national hepatitis C virus (HCV) register. Basic access to testing and screening facilities are vital especially for persons in high-risk groups such as people who inject drugs or prisoners. Nonetheless in 12 of the countries (44%) there are no HCV testing or screening sites outside of hospitals.
171 000 people die due to viral hepatitis related causes annually.
For the long version of this press release and the press kit please click here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6hcwi2mhzwjp607/AADiTHN-lh8qyJx1t5aRTKaGa?dl=0
The European Liver Patients Association works to promote the interests of people with liver diseases. ELPA currently has 35 member groups from 27 countries.
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