European Liver Patients Association to Fight Hepatitis C

European Liver Patients' Association Convenes with Turkish Decision-Makers on Hepatitis C Control The European Liver Patients' Association brought together civil society organizations, physicians and decision-makers in Turkey to address hepatitis C, calling for steps and recommendations toward eliminating the disease. The European Liver Patients' Association (ELPA), which continues its work to ensure liver disease treatment reaches the highest standards in Europe, organized a special series of meetings to comprehensively address hepatitis C, a blood-borne disease that can result in cirrhosis and death if not diagnosed early. The meeting was attended by representatives from organizations including the Turkish Human Resources Association (PERYÖN), Positive Living Association, Independent Living Association, Thalassemia Solidarity Association, members of physician societies, foundation representatives, and officials from the Ministry of Justice, Social Security Administration General Health Insurance Pharmaceutical Department, Istanbul Bar Association Health Law Center, Yeşilay, Turkish Red Crescent, and World Health Organization (WHO). At the meeting, global targets for combating hepatitis C were discussed alongside awareness efforts, virus transmission prevention and disease burden reduction activities implemented under the Turkey Viral Hepatitis Prevention and Control Program published by the Ministry of Health Public Health General Directorate. At the meeting where opinions were shared on steps necessary for a multidisciplinary approach, the aim was to establish cooperation among European countries to serve as examples of successful practices and to promote their implementation.

Viral Hepatitis Poses a Public Health Risk

Hilal Ünalmış Duda, Chair of the Living with Hepatitis Association (HEPYAŞAM), which organized the ELPA@Home Program meeting in Istanbul, stated that "in eliminating the problems it creates, prevention efforts and screening and treatment expansion for high-risk groups such as prisoners, drug users and migrants are the most important priorities." Duda noted that on the first day of the meeting they convened with patient associations to explain the difficulties encountered in combating hepatitis C and to serve as the voice of patients, saying "ELPA's visit to Turkey provided us an opportunity to bring the problems patients and their relatives might face in combating hepatitis C back to the agenda." Additionally, he stated that "early warning systems should be recommended for integration into hospital registration systems to facilitate disease management and patient diagnosis, so that patients with positive anti-HCV test results across all specialties can be referred to an infectious disease or gastroenterology physician."

Estimated 71 Million People Worldwide Have Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

At the meeting, ELPA Project Manager Julio Burman also provided information on the ELPA@Home program. Burman made the following remarks: "According to WHO reports, an estimated 71 million people worldwide have chronic hepatitis C infection. According to the same report, in 2015, 1 million 340 thousand people died due to cirrhosis and liver cancer resulting from viral hepatitis. In 2016, the WHO Global Health Strategy was prepared targeting 90% reduction in new viral hepatitis cases and 65% reduction in deaths from viral hepatitis by 2030, and was unanimously adopted at the 69th World Health Assembly, of which Turkey is a member. It is gratifying to see important steps being taken toward eliminating hepatitis C disease in Turkey," he said. As a result of the two-day meeting, recommendations were addressed for effective implementation of the current national program and monitoring of actions, with emphasis placed on the continuity of awareness efforts targeting risk groups. Burman stated, "Relevant stakeholders need to regularly evaluate the recommendations and steps taken and monitor their results."