PM: 2015 is the year of fighting against Hepatitis C

The Georgian Government has declared 2015 as the year of fighting against Hepatitis C.

At a Governmental meeting today Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili spoke about the new Hepatitis C medicine, which would soon enter the Georgian market from the United States (US) and would almost completely eliminate the infectious disease in the country.

"As you know, for many years this was an unresolved issue not only in Georgia but in all countries. However today, by the efforts of the Ministry of Health and very active work of the Minister himself, our biggest challenge this year is to completely overcome the Hepatitis C disease, that is why I declare 2015 as the year of fighting against Hepatitis C,” Garibashvili announced.

The PM stressed that an unprecedented project would soon begin that would not only provide people with medication, but with correct diagnosis and treatment. He noted that every citizen would be able to receive treatment for Hepatitis C, including prisoners.

"The Ministry of Health will tighten regulations and control in order to prevent the [infection and spread of the] disease. I am confident that the hard work we all put in, especially the Ministry of Health and Minister Sergeenko, will bring a positive result and this will become an important project for our citizens,” he said.

Garibashvili called on everyone to engage in the campaign and thanked Minister Sergeenko for his work.

The Health Minister held a press-conference yesterday where he spoke about details of the new campaign.

Sergeenko noted the agreement about the importation of new medicine would be probably be signed at the end of the February and the project would be launched completely sometime this year.

"This project [provides] not only a discount on Hepatitis C medicine but a complete public health project, which aims to provide everyone in Georgia with quality treatment and, on the other hand, to minimise the emergence of new cases,” he said.

"In order to accomplish this, massive prevention of new cases is needed. For this, broad participation is essential. Society should be informed about the main parameters of this project and it is also important that people share their ideas with us,” Sergeenko noted.

The Minister said the exact price of the new medicine would not be known until the contract was signed but he stressed it would be affordable for any social group.

"In all ten regions of Georgia we have already acquired modern equipment. In addition, a few dozen doctors will be trained for controlling this disease. We think that within three years our goal will be reached if the project is implemented according to plan, which widely depends on the support from the society."