Georgian Gov’t launches hepatitis B elimination state programme

 Tengiz Tsertsvadze, the head of the Infectious Diseases and AIDS Centre, on Friday announced the launch of a state programme for the elimination of hepatitis B in Georgia.

In his social media post, Tsertsvadze said diagnostic studies and antiviral treatment would be completely free of charge for patients within the programme.

Taking into account the high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in the population of Georgia, the implementation of the programme will be of great importance in terms of early detection of patients with hepatitis B, their inclusion in respective treatment and [...] accordingly, prevention of unfavourable outcomes of the disease”, he noted. 

He pointed out that the programme beneficiaries would be Georgian citizens, including previously undiagnosed individuals who would be screened for HBsAg and patients with proven chronic hepatitis B, both untreated or being on antiviral therapy.

The healthcare professional added individuals with negative HBsAg would be tested for anti-HBc total antibodies and in case of negative test results, they would be offered hepatitis B vaccination for free within the state immunisation programme.

• Gov’t to launch new Hepatitis B elimination programme

He added patients with chronic hepatitis B, at the first stage of the programme, would undergo medical examinations such as doctor consultations, liver elastography to determine the degree of liver damage and ultrasound examination of abdominal organs.

Tsertsvadze also highlighted Georgia’s hepatitis C elimination programme with the Centre, which was “one of the main initiators and executors” of the unprecedented programme, with more than 86,000 chronic hepatitis C patients having already been cured throughout the country.