Georgia furthers its fight against Hepatitis C

Georgia is taking its unique Hepatitis C treatment program to a new level.

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Health Minister David Sergeenko today announced the program would continue with a new generation medicine Harvoni, and infected people would be given the medicine for free.

"Use of this medication will make the treatment program more effective and more people will be cured,” the PM said, adding many had already been cured of the deadly virus thanks to the program.

Georgia launched the Hepatitis C Elimination Program in April 2015. With an innovative approach to treatment, the program aimed to fully eliminate the virus from the country in five years.

The PM and the Health Minister said the program was successful and the new drug would make it even more effective.

"Our US partners say Georgia has become an example for other countries showing a global approach to eliminate the virus. We would like to inform you that a new generation medicine Harvoni will be introduced soon which will make Hepatitis C treatment more effective and more patients will be cured,” Garibashvili said at today’s press conference.