​WAM Monday 25th July, 2016

ABU DHABI, 24th July 2016 (WAM) --- To commemorate World Hepatitis Day this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling on decision-makers and people affected by the disease to work together to put hepatitis treatment within the reach of all people living with chronic hepatitis C.

The newly available treatment known as direct-acting antivirals is safe, easy to administer and can cure over 95 per cent of people with hepatitis C within 12?24 weeks. However, its price is high both for individuals to afford and for governments to make available, the health watchdog said in a press release posted on its website.
The WHO says every year in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, around 400,000 people are newly infected with hepatitis C virus. Over two thirds of those people will develop chronic hepatitis C, which is one of the main causes of liver cancer.
Currently, nearly 16 million people live with chronic hepatitis C in this region.

​TO CONTINUE READING:http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/246116333/who-calls-to-put-hepatitis-c-medicines-within-reach-of-patients

Posted on 07/15/2016 by Harlem World Magazine 

New York State has the third highest hepatitis C rate in the U.S., and East Harlem has one of the highest rates of newly reported chronic hepatitis C infection of all New York City neighborhoods. To address this, the Prevent Cancer Foundation is partnering with the Coalition on Positive Health Empowerment (COPE) and the Hepatitis C Mentor and Support Group, Inc. (HCMSG) to bring their Think About the Link™education campaign to Harlem to increase awareness of the connection between the hepatitis C virus and liver cancer, ahead of World Hepatitis Day.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation, COPE and HCMSG will host a Day of Action on July 25, convening local health care leaders, policy influencers and advocates to focus on strategies to reduce the high rates of hepatitis C in the Harlem community. These experts will discuss how to improve awareness of and access to screenings and treatments in Harlem to prevent the virus, and ultimately, prevent cancer. Free hepatitis C screenings will also be provided at a health fair in the afternoon.
Harlem’s community is particularly at risk for hepatitis C, and African-Americans in Harlem are at higher risk of infection. There are screenings and treatments to diagnose and cure hepatitis C, but many Harlem residents are unaware of the virus and its link to liver cancer. Education is critical because hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver cancer.
Hep C by the numbers:

• New York State has the third highest hepatitis C rate in the U.S.
• 146,500 people in New York City are living with hepatitis C.i
• The number of hepatitis C-related deaths in New York City increased by 46 percent from 1999 to 2013.
• In 2014, East Harlem had one of the highest rates of newly reported chronic hepatitis C infection of all New York City neighborhoods.iii
• Hepatitis C infection is more common among African-Americans, who make up 62 percent of Central Harlem North’s population, 58 percent of Central Harlem South’s population, 35 percent of East Harlem North’s population, 24 percent of East Harlem South’s population, 26 percent of New York City’s population, and 18 percent of New York State’s population.
• New York State reports an average of 1,919 new liver cancer cases per year.

To Continue:​   http://harlemworldmag.com/harlem-day-of-action-to-address-high-rate-of-hep-c-in-ny/

​Brian R Edlin

Sound health policy puts patients first. Antiviral regimens approved in 2014 revolutionised treatment of hepatitis C virus
(HCV) infection. Most patients can now be cured. These new regimens, however, were priced at US$83 320–150 000 for a 3-month course. Public and private payers in the USA responded by limiting coverage to patients with advanced fi brosisor cirrhosis, keeping the drugs from being used to prevent those stages. These restrictions defy medical guidelines, lack scientifi c justifi cation, and undermine public health eff orts to stem transmission. Instead of reducing barriers to care, the system has erected new ones. As drug makers and payers battle over billions of dollars, the needs of patients have been cast aside. Physicians and governments have a duty to make sure health policy is driven by the needs of patients and public health. In this Personal View, I call upon these groups to lead the creation of a national consensus among all stakeholders that will allow the advances in therapeutics for HCV infection to be put to work to end the epidemic.
To Read: edlin.hcv.treatment.crisis.lancet.infect.infect.dis,2016.pdf