Cent Eur J Public Health 2019, 27(3):212-216 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a5486

State of viral hepatitis care in 16 countries of Central and Eastern European Region

Nikoloz Chkhartishvili1, Tiberiu Holban2, Jasmina Simonović Babić3, Ivailo Alexiev4, Mojca Matičič5, Justyna Kowalska6, Andrzej Horban6, ECEE Network Group
1 Infectious Diseases, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Research Centre, Tbilisi, Georgia
2 Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
3 Faculty of Medicine Belgrade University, Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Belgrade, Serbia
4 National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria
5 University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
6 Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

Objectives: Survey was conducted to assess state of viral hepatitis care in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

Methods: Representatives of 16 CEE countries completed on-line survey in April-May 2017 that collected information on basic epidemiology and availability of key services for HCV and HBV infections. Sources of information provided ranged from national surveillance data to expert opinion.

Results: The burden of viral hepatitis varied between countries, ranging from 6,500 to 2 million for HCV and from 10,000 to 3 million for HBV. Access to routine HCV RNA testing and genotyping was reported by 11 and 9 countries, respectively. HCV resistance testing was available in 7 countries. Direct acting antivirals (DAAs) were available in 13 countries, most frequently Sofosbuvir and Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir (12 countries apiece) and Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Dasabuvir (9 countries). HBV DNA testing and HBV genotyping were routinely available in 10 and 7 countries, respectively. Eleven countries reported available treatment with Tenofovir.

Conclusions: There are gaps in viral hepatitis care in CEE. Despite the availability of registered modern drugs for HCV and HBV, the access to treatment is limited. Ensuring quality health care is essential to reduce the epidemic and achieve the WHO's goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a major public health challenge.

Keywords: viral hepatitis, Central and Eastern Europe, HCV, HBV

Received: August 8, 2018; Revised: July 3, 2019; Accepted: July 3, 2019; Published: September 30, 2019  Show citation

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Chkhartishvili N, Holban T, Simonović Babić J, Alexiev I, Matičič M, Kowalska J, et al.. State of viral hepatitis care in 16 countries of Central and Eastern European Region. Cent Eur J Public Health. 2019;27(3):212-216. doi: 10.21101/cejph.a5486. PubMed PMID: 31580556.
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