World Hepatitis Summit aims to raise awareness of viral hepatitis

Hundreds of key leaders, policymakers and patient groups are currently attending the first-ever World Hepatitis Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, in an attempt to raise more awareness about viral hepatitis and discuss how to create more access to diagnosing and treating the infection, according to a press release from the World Health Organization.

The summit, co-sponsored by WHO and the World Hepatitis Alliance, is the first high-level global meeting to focus specifically on hepatitis, attracting delegates from more than 60 countries, according to the release. The aim is to help countries enhance action to prevent viral hepatitis infection and ensure that people who are infected are diagnosed and offered treatment.

“We know how to prevent viral hepatitis, we have a safe and effective vaccine for hepatitis B, and we now have medicines that can cure people with hepatitis C and control hepatitis B infection,” Gottfried Hirnschall, MD, director of the WHO’s Global Hepatitis Program, said in the release. “Yet access to diagnosis and treatment is still lacking or inaccessible in many parts of the world. This summit is a wake-up call to build momentum to prevent, diagnose, treat and eventually eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health problem.”

The release states that at the summit, WHO is launching a new manual for the development and assessment of national viral hepatitis plans. In addition, policymakers and stakeholders are discussing the draft WHO Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis, which sets targets for 2030.

“The targets include a 90% reduction in new cases of chronic hepatitis B and C, a 65% reduction in hepatitis B and C deaths and treatment of 80% of eligible people with chronic hepatitis B and C infections,” according to the release.

In addition to raising awareness, the summit is also being held to focus attention on a public health approach to viral hepatitis and to be a central forum for countries to share their experience and best practices to drive rapid advances in national responses.

“This summit is about empowering countries to take the practical steps needed at a national level,” Charles Gore, president of the World Hepatitis Alliance, said in the release. “It has brought here to Scotland patients’ groups and civil society from across the world to support countries in doing this. We can eliminate viral hepatitis as a major global killer but we must all work together to make that vision a reality.”

According to WHO, approximately 400 million people are currently living with viral hepatitis, with an estimated 1.45 million people dying each year. HBV and HCV together cause approximately 80% of all liver cancer deaths, yet most people living with chronic viral hepatitis are unaware of their infection.

Disclosures: Hirnschall reports being affiliated with WHO. Gore reports being affiliated with the World Hepatitis Alliance.