Hepatitis C

hepatitis news

Health, India, international, News 16 August 2022

Hepatitis: Will new evidence for “same-day test and treat” be a game-changer?

The article is based on an interview with one of the researchers who presented a game-changing study which shows it is feasible and possible to do the same-day test and treat for hepatitis. Currently, in some places, it takes weeks to 30-45 days from getting screened to beginning treatment (if at all). Same-day test and treat model is possible for hepatitis and may be for other disease interventions as we have to root out avoidable delays – which cause prolonged human suffering and may deter people to continue care. A new study published last month in the Journal of Hepatology can prove to be a game-changer as it provides strong evidence that the “same-day test and treat model” for hepatitis is feasible and possible. In light of this strong evidence, if governments have to keep their promise to end viral hepatitis by 2030, there must be no delay in fully making this model a reality for every person who needs hepatitis care. Why do people drop out of hepatitis-related care? One of the reasons why people dropped out of hepatitis-related care was the long-time gap between the screening test to initiating treatment (for those who need it). “Earlier, the turnaround time from sample collection to getting the report of hepatitis C viral load test was 30-45 days. This was one of the major treatment access barriers. Now, this time has been reduced to 5-7 days,” said Nalinikanta Raj Kumar, one of the co-authors of the study, who has spearheaded the Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE). “Same-day test and treat” model is the best possible way forward to ensure that people who opt for hepatitis screening are able to continue along the healthcare pathway. “Unless we replicate this model under the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, treatment uptake will remain low,” said Nalinikanta, who presented this model at 24th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2022) too. All happens in about 8 hours Pilot testing this same-day test and treatment model in Manipur, India (Manipur is an Indian state bordering Myanmar which is hard-hit by hepatitis and HIV both), the researchers screened people…

hepatitis news

Health, India, international, News 10 August 2022

NVH Control Programme: Staff shortage remains a bottleneck in viral hepatitis services

Article based on an interview with a top government official in hepatitis and HIV hard-hit state. All governments globally have committed to ending viral hepatitis by 2030. But staff shortage is acute and decimating progress. The Indian state of Manipur, hard hit by HIV and hepatitis, should be providing free screening, diagnosis, and treatment services for hepatitis B and hepatitis C. But despite commendable progress in recent years, acute staff shortage is crippling the programme implementation. What is National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme? National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme was launched in July 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, under the umbrella of the National Health Mission, with the aim of providing free screening, testing, diagnosis, and treatment. “We began implementation of this programme in Manipur in July 2019, around World Hepatitis Day observance, with the setting up of two Model Treatment Centres in Imphal – one at Jawahar Lal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JLNIMS), and the other at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS),” said Dr Rosie Raj Kumari, State Nodal Officer of the National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, Manipur. Dr Rosie was speaking with CNS (Citizen News Service) around the 24th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2022). Hepatitis treatment centres in Manipur There is a hepatitis treatment centre in seven out of 16 districts of Manipur (the remaining nine districts are newly created and have yet to have a district hospital). These centres were screening for both, hepatitis B and C, but providing treatment only for hepatitis C. From July 2021, hepatitis B treatment is also being rolled out from two model treatment centres in Imphal, informed Dr Rosie. Getting a confirmatory viral load test for hepatitis continues to be a challenge as it is only available at two model treatment centres in Manipur state’s capital city of Imphal. Many people find it difficult to go to Imphal for a range of reasons. More embarrassing is the fact that even though there are TrueNat machines to do viral load tests at the district level, no trained staff available to manage these machines. Dr…

World-Hepatitis-day-2021

Health, India, international, News 23 December 2021

Think twice: Can we deliver on Health For All without saving lives from viral hepatitis?

Recently Mayors, MPs and other sub-national leaders from Asia Pacific countries resolved to integrate hepatitis programmes in local health responses. Viral hepatitis B and C is not only preventable but also tests and treatments exist. Hepatitis C is curable. But still, the disease burden is crippling with over 350 million people with hepatitis B and C globally, and 3 people dying every minute. Covid pandemic had forced hepatitis services to take a backseat. But we need HEALTH FOR ALL truly which includes preventable infections like hepatitis if we are to walk the talk on the tall promises. Despite over 350 million people living with hepatitis B and C virus globally, and 3 persons dying every minute, much-needed efforts are yet to be on track to end viral hepatitis in the next 108 months (by 2030) as promised by heads of all countries in UN General Assembly (by adopting the Sustainable Development Goals). More importantly, during the Covid pandemic, efforts to prevent and save lives from viral hepatitis had taken a backseat – which is risking losing the gains made earlier in addressing viral hepatitis across the world. “Elimination of viral hepatitis should be part of any sound public health agenda. With a strong political will and collective leadership we can achieve the regional goal of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030” said Wangsheng Li, cofounder and founding President of The Hepatitis Fund (endHep2030.org). He was speaking at the 6th Asia Pacific Summit of Mayors (APCAT Summit) which brought together subnational leaders of almost 80 cities across the region. Addressing viral hepatitis was an important part of the integrated health and development agenda of this summit. The Mayors and other subnational leaders and delegates of APCAT Summit adopted an APCAT Declaration 2021 which includes the promise for “addressing the challenge of viral hepatitis as a major public health threat in the Asia Pacific region through the elimination of mother to child transmission by raising public awareness and strengthening health systems through public and private partnerships.” The Declaration endorsed by 6th APCAT Summit further underlines: “We commit to doing everything to harness the…

World Health Organization

News 4 October 2021

WHO prioritizes access to diabetes and cancer treatments in new Essential Medicines Lists

High prices and low availability are still major barriers to patients’ access to new and old medicines Geneva, 3 October 2021 – The World Health Organization (WHO) on 1 October published the new edition of its Model Lists of Essential Medicines and Essential Medicines for Children, which include new treatments for various cancers, insulin analogues and new oral medicines for diabetes, new medicines to assist people who want to stop smoking, and new antimicrobials to treat serious bacterial and fungal infections. What is the aim of these listings? The listings aim to address global health priorities, identifying the medicines that provide the greatest benefits, and which should be available and affordable for all. However, high prices for both new, patented medicines and older medicines, like insulin, continue to keep some essential medicines out of reach for many patients. “Diabetes is on the rise globally, and rising faster in low- and middle-income countries,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Too many people who need insulin encounter financial hardship in accessing it or go without it and lose their lives. Including insulin analogues in the Essential Medicines List, coupled with efforts to ensure affordable access to all insulin products and expand the use of biosimilars, is a vital step towards ensuring everyone who needs this life-saving product can access it.” Medicines for diabetes | When was Insulin discovered as a treatment for diabetes? Insulin was discovered as a treatment for diabetes 100 years ago and human insulin has been on WHO’s List of Essential Medicines since it was first published in 1977. Unfortunately, limited insulin supply and high prices in several low- and middle-income countries are currently significant barriers to treatment. For example, in Ghana’s capital, Accra, the amount of insulin needed for a month would cost a worker the equivalent of 5.5 days of pay per month. Insulin production is concentrated in a small number of manufacturing facilities, and three manufacturers control most of the global market, with the lack of competition resulting in high prices that are prohibitive for many people and health systems. The move to list long-acting…

World-Hepatitis-day-2021

Health, India, international, literature, News, Social Media, United States 26 July 2021

World Hepatitis day 2021: Hepatitis Can’t Wait

World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver that causes severe liver disease and hepatocellular cancer. World Hepatitis Day 2021 theme This year’s World Hepatitis Day theme is “Hepatitis Can’t Wait”. With a person dying every 30 seconds from a hepatitis-related illness – even in the current COVID-19 crisis – we can’t wait to act on viral hepatitis. There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus – A, B, C, D and E. Together, hepatitis B and C are the most common which result in 1.1 million deaths and 3 million new infections per year. Key facts Hepatitis A According to a fact sheet of WHO : Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver that can cause mild to severe illness. The hepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water or through direct contact with an infectious person. Almost everyone recovers fully from hepatitis A with lifelong immunity. However, a very small proportion of people infected with hepatitis A could die from fulminant hepatitis. The risk of hepatitis A infection is associated with a lack of safe water and poor sanitation and hygiene (such as contaminated and dirty hands). A safe and effective vaccine is available to prevent hepatitis A. Key facts Hepatitis B According to a fact sheet of WHO : Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic diseases. The virus is most commonly transmitted from mother to child during birth and delivery, as well as through contact with blood or other body fluids during sex with an infected partner, unsafe injections or exposure to sharp instruments. Hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccines that are safe, available and effective. WHO estimates that 296 million people were living with chronic hepatitis B infection in 2019, with 1.5 million new infections each year. In 2019, hepatitis B resulted in an estimated 820 000 deaths, mostly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer). Key facts Hepatitis C According to a…

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Health, News, United States 10 August 2019

Study proves hepatitis C drugs reduce liver-related deaths by nearly half

DALLAS – Aug. 10th, 2019 – A new study from the UT Southwestern Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center demonstrates that antiviral drugs for hepatitis C reduce liver-related deaths by nearly 50% in patients with a history of liver cancer. The finding builds on a December 2018 study by the same researchers who found that antiviral drugs do not increase the risk of liver cancer recurrence, as was previously feared. Dr. Amit Singal’s study was published in the journal Gastroenterology on July 30. Dr. Singal is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, Medical Director of the UT Southwestern Liver Tumor Program, and Clinical Chief of Hepatology. He collaborated on these studies with Dr. Caitlin Murphy, Assistant Professor of Population and Data Sciences and Internal Medicine. They are both members of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern. Their studies overturn prior misconceptions that made doctors reluctant to prescribe direct-acting antivirals to treat hepatitis C in patients with a history of liver cancer. Many doctors previously believed that hepatitis C, for all its harmfulness, activates the immune system when it infects the liver, and the immune system kept liver cancer recurrence at bay. But this notion appears to be false. Drs. Singal and Murphy studied nearly 800 patients from 31 medical centers across the country and found that the drugs are not only safe, they decrease death from cirrhosis and liver cancer by 46%. “Not only are these drugs safe in this patient population, but we have now demonstrated that they are helpful,” Dr. Singal said. “Our study changes the paradigm from you could treat a patient’s hepatitis C to you should treat it.” Dr. Carlos L. Arteaga, Director of the Simmons Cancer Center, said the study’s scope and impact are something that can only be produced by a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Dr. Singal had more patients involved in the study than any other participating site. As an epidemiologist, Dr. Murphy brought rigor to the data that removes prior doubt on this issue,” he said. Dr. Murphy said previous studies compounded the misunderstandings of direct-acting antiviral therapy…