Despite setbacks, experts have hope for HCV elimination

WASHINGTON — A number of presentations, lectures and posters at The Liver Meeting focused on hepatitis C virus and work being done to achieve the WHO goal for elimination by 2030, according to an expert in attendance.

“Unfortunately, a recurring theme is that we really are not reaching our goals,” Tatyana Kushner, MD, associate professor in the division of liver diseases at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told Healio in this video exclusive.

Kushner attributed current setbacks to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors that limit access to HCV treatment. Despite ongoing challenges, leaders in the field have created a new national plan for HCV elimination, which was presented at the meeting.

“The hope is that with this plan we really can make a lot more headway and account for the setbacks with the pandemic and other factors,” Kushner said.