Elimination of Hepatitis C still a priority for Georgia

US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly said his country will continue supporting Georgia with its Hepatitis C elimination program.

Ambassador Kelly attended a meeting today with Georgian and foreign medical experts during which the Minister of Health, Labour and Social Affairs Davit Sergeenko summarised the two-year Hepatitis C elimination program.

More than 30,000 people suffering from Hepatitis C are registered in the program. Around 7,500 people have received free treatment and have been cured in Georgia since launching the program back in 2015.

The Ministry recommends all citizens to get tested for Hepatitis C, and if their results appear positive to sign up for the free treatment program.

Signing a memorandum with Gilead, the company that produces Sofosbuvir and Harvoni, medicines for Hepatitis C, Georgia has made the virus treatment free for all citizens under the program.

Typically the treatment costs €110,000 per person, which is unaffordable for the majority of Georgians. This is why the Ministry believes the Hepatitis C elimination program is revolutionary.

Last year the Government of Georgia approved $50 million 2016-2020 National Strategy on Elimination of Hepatitis C, which meant in four years' time 90 percent of patients infected with the disease will be screened and 95 percent of those afflicted will receive treatment.