Hep Headlines
headlines
hep
Hepatitis is regularly
making the news
thanks to the efforts
of WHA members.
Here are a few
highlights. Read more at:
https://busquedas.elperuano.
pe/normaslegales/aprueban-la-
norma-tecnica-de-salud-para-
la-prevencion-diag-resolucion-
ministerial-n-1317-2018minsa-
1724730-5/?fbclid=IwAR26ff-x_
wFk8Dv6IrG_jUVf8_s9O1jjF-
XcsPKRcLnVwu3SVNBcI5aYUfM Peru Launches New Health
Guidelines for Hepatitis C Louisiana adopts ‘Netflix
model’ to pay for hepatitis C
treatments Belgium on the right track
towards the elimination of
hepatitis C virus
Louisiana officials announced that
their state would become the first
to move forward with a new way
to pay for hepatitis C treatments
that could dramatically increase
the number of people cured
and provide a model for other
places struggling to afford the
medications. Belgium’s Minister of Health
Maggie De Block has announced
that from 1 January 2019
funds will be available to make
innovative medicines for the
treatment of hepatitis C accessible
to all patients, regardless of how
far they have progressed in their
illness.
Instead of paying for each
prescription individually, Louisiana
Governor John Bel Edwards said
that the state would in effect
pay a subscription fee to a drug
company, an alternative payment
arrangement that has become
known as the “Netflix model.” The
state would then get unlimited
access to the drug, similar to how
consumers pay a monthly fee to
stream unlimited television shows
and films. Katrien Lammens, Chair of
WHA member Vlaams Hepatitis
Contactpunt (VHC), said:
Peru’s Minister of Health, Silvia
Ester Pessah Eljay, has approved
the ‘Health Guidelines for the
Prevention, Diagnosis and
Treatment of Viral Hepatitis
C in Peru’. The objective of
the guidelines is to regulate
procedures for the prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of the
hepatitis C virus in Peru, in order
to reduce morbidity and mortality
in the general population,
especially in at-risk groups with
greater vulnerability.
Peru’s unique geography presents
a challenge for the health
system, with 25 regional health
departments overseeing services
for wildly different regions ranging
from the sprawling capital of
Lima to remote villages in the
pockets of the Amazon rainforest
accessible only by boat. Peru’s
new guidelines look to ensure that
no one is left behind as they make
hepatitis elimination a reality.
4 hep Voice JANUARY 2019
The state’s goal is to treat 10,000
people with hepatitis C by 2020
instead of about 1,000 people
Participating in a
hepatitis related
activity or have an
event planned?
Email us or contact
us on social media.
treated last year, at the cost of $35
million. The Lancet releases new
viral hepatitis commision
Read more at:
https://www.washingtonpost.
com/health/2019/01/10/
louisiana-adopts-netflix-model-
pay-hepatitis-c-drugs/?utm_
term=.4cf8a95c03b4 A global panel of experts
have published their key
recommendations to advance
the fight against viral
hepatitis.
“This is a great relief for infected
patients who did not have a route
to treatment. They were burdened
with a huge emotional and
psychological weight. Now they
will be able to continue their lives
safely.”
Read more at:
https://abbvie-belgium.prezly.
com/belgie-op-het-juiste-spoor-
richting-eliminatie-van-het-
hepatitis-c-virus#
The Commission, published in
The Lancet Gastroenterology
& Hepatology, assesses
the global landscape of
the disease and identifies
priorities at a global, regional
and national level that are key
to its elimination.
Despite presenting a major
public health challenge, viral
hepatitis has been historically
marginalised as a health
and development priority.
However, in 2015, the UN
adopted a resolution calling
for specific action to combat
viral hepatitis as part of its
2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, which was
followed by the publication
of the World Health
Organization’s (WHO) first
global health sector strategy
on viral hepatitis in 2016. This
newfound, coordinated focus
on viral hepatitis means that
eliminating the disease is now
a realistic goal.
Read more at:
https://www.thelancet.com/
commissions/elimination-of-
viral-hepatitis test-today/
dates for
the diary
Upcoming events and activities
taking place in the coming
months.
28-30 january 2019
HepHIV Conference, Bucharest
HepHIV aims to provide an overview of innovative initiatives and
best practices on optimal testing and earlier care for HIV and
viral hepatitis from different settings across Europe, including
progress and challenges in the integration of service, sustain
and fuel the political discussion of testing policies, increase
political commitment and public awareness by discussing how
to translate global and regional goals, objectives and targets into
local implementation plans, and provide opportunities for multi-
stakeholder dialogue to develop creative solutions to unresolved
challenges in research and implementation of HIV and viral
hepatitis, TB and STI policies and programmes to improve early
diagnosis and care.
4 february 2019
World Cancer Day
Each year on 4 February, World Cancer Day empowers all of us
across the world to show support, raise our collective voice, take
personal action and pressure our governments to do more. World
Cancer Day is the only day on the global health calendar where we
can all unite and rally under one banner in a positive and inspiring
way.
hep Voice
JANUARY 2019 5