Hepatitis C virus (HCV) continues to be one of the most prevalent blood-borne infections in the world, infecting more than 185 million people globally. WHO estimates that 71 million people are living with chronic HCV infection, and about 399,000 people die from complications of the virus each year, mostly from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Countries in East Asia carry amongst the highest HCV infection-levels globally. Although antiviral medications can cure more than 95% of patients with HCV, WHO reports that access to diagnosis and treatment is low. In 2015, only 20% of the 71 million people living with HCV knew their diagnosis, and just 7.4% of those diagnosed initiated treatment. An additional 1.76 million patients were started on treatment in 2016; however, more efforts are needed to reach WHO’s 80% treatment target by 2030.
Urgent need for action
Hepatitis C is easily cured. Although there is no vaccine for this virus, detection and timely intervention is the best way to prevent the spread. Beginning in 2014, several medications that cure hepatitis C within weeks of therapy became available, revolutionizing care for infected individuals. Yet, only about one in five people even know they are infected. Many go on to develop cancer or cirrhosis of the liver. Infact, thousands of people die of the liver disease every year as only a smattering get the medicine they need. Dennis Israelski, Senior Director, Public Health & Medical Affairs, Access Operations and Emerging Markets, Gilead Sciences says, "Chronic hepatitis C is a silent disease which can lead to serious health condition, if left untreated. Nowadays, hepatitis C treatments are highly effective early in the course of the disease. Thus, early diagnosis and treatment of the virus provides patients higher chance to be cured, and prevent it from transmitting to others." HCV is most commonly passed on through infected blood - either by soiled needles used to inject legal or illegal drugs, or blood transfusions.
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged governments to attack the problem with more urgency, and funding. In light of this need, Gilead Sciences launched a first-of-its-kind collaboration project in Asia to help cure Hepatitis C (HCV)- at no cost to patients. The project, conducted in collaboration with the Arkhangai Province Health Department in Mongolia has managed to cure and control liver disease caused by viral HCV amongst the population in Arkhangai.
Arkhangai Project: Gilead’s ongoing access initiatives in Asia
The Liver Disease Free Arkhangai project was conducted in collaboration with the Arkhangai Province Health Department with a goal to reduce morbidity and mortality levels of viral hepatitis among the Arkhangai aimag population, where HCV was prevalent in 19.6% of the people aged 40-65. Talking about the objective behind the initiative, Dr Dennis says, "HCV also causes liver diseases and cancers, and in Arkhangai, liver cancer has caused 47.6% of total cancer mortality rates for the past 5 years. Prior to this, there were no existing public health viral hepatitis programs in the Arkhangai Province, and very few patients were ever treated in the public sector. As such, Gilead’s partnership with the Arkhangai government to treat HCV was ever more important in order to eliminate the disease." The Government of Mongolia has been working to dramatically reduce the number of Mongolians diagnosed with liver disease by implementing various programs, as well as bringing down the number of people infected with HCV.
Dr Dennis continues, "The project has increased the public knowledge of the risk factors associated with HCV and liver diseases, and improved livelihoods of over 1,700 households in Arkhangai. In addition, local doctors and health professionals gained new knowledge in screening and treatment capacities from the project, which will also serve as a good framework and example for other aimags and health departments to follow."
Successful study paves way for adaptation by other countries
Dr Dennis Is...
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