A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON HEPATITIS C

A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

ON HEPATITIS CON HEPATITIS C

Mr Charles GoreMr Charles Gore

The Hepatitis C TrustThe Hepatitis C Trust

World Hepatitis AllianceWorld Hepatitis Alliance

Background

• 130-170 million people with HCV

• 3-4 million new cases a year

• 250,000 deaths annually?

• Predominant route of transmission is reused syringes (medical or recreational)

• Globally surveillance is very poor

• Globally awareness, profile and priority are very low

Raising Awareness

• Creation of World Hepatitis Day

• HBV and HCV together

• Very different situations in different countries

• Each country to do its own messaging

• Creating a focus

Am I Number 12? Tour

• Brazil enhancements for

• Argentina footballers

• China – all singing surveillance system

• Taiwan – the altitude problem

• Poland – waiting for ever

• Algeria – ‘dentists are the culprits’

• Pakistan – needles, needles everywhere

Am I Number 12? Blog

Awareness

• Portugal – projections and sugar

• Switzerland – posters at Geneva

airport

• Bangladesh – 10,000 posters

• Bulgaria – Big Brother, Pop Idol

Awareness

Policy

Scotland is first country to sign up to: The 12 Asks

1. Public recognition of chronic viral hepatitis as an urgent public health issue2. The appointment of an individual to lead Government strategy nationally3. The development of a patient pathway for screening, diagnosis, referral and

treatment4. Clear, quantifiable targets for reducing incidence and prevalence5. Clear, quantifiable targets for reducing mortality6. Clear, quantifiable targets for screening7. Effective surveillance and publication of national incidence and prevalence

statistics8. Commitment to tackle health inequalities in access to services 9. Commitment to partner with patient groups in national policy design and

implementation10. Provision of free and confidential testing11. An ongoing national public awareness campaign that alerts people to the issue

and is committed to reducing stigma12. Implementation of an effective national vaccination programme

WHO

• Application for one-off endorsement of WHD

• Letters to all 193 member states re EB

• Brazil, China, Oman and Afghanistan get viral hepatitis onto WHA agenda

• Brazil submits resolution calling for:

- improved prevention, testing and access to treatment

- better surveillance

- more support from WHO

- the adoption of May 19th as World Hepatitis Day

WHO Responses

WHO Responses

WHO

• Application for one-off endorsement of WHD refused on grounds

of

• WHO cuts short World Health Assembly because of swine flu;

viral hepatitis dropped

• Viral hepatitis now referred to EB Jan 2010

• Looking for a new resolution next year

Hepatitis in the UK

Divided Nations report highlights

lack in England of:

- a clear timetable

- clear outcome measures

- a clear budget

- detailed planning

- arrangements for audit

- effective oversight

Hepatitis in the UK

Out of Control report – due out end-June

• Very low levels of treatment compared to NICE guidance

• Wide regional disparities

• Lack of governance in England compared to Scotland

• Some SHAs don’t even know governance is their

responsibility

HCT in Scotland• Importance of collaborative

working

• The patient voice

• PR in Scotland

World Hepatitis Day

May 19th 2009

www.worldhepatitisday.info

Thank You