The global community needs to improve its prevention and treatment of hepatitis, according to a World Health Organization report.
The WHO "Global Policy Report on the Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis" presents findings from a 2012 survey of member states about their policies and practices around hepatitis. Here are some key findings from the 126 member states that responded to the survey:
• Only 37 percent of the countries have national strategies for viral hepatitis.
• While 82 percent of the countries have established hepatitis surveillance programs, only half include the monitoring of chronic hepatitis B and C, which account for most severe illnesses and deaths, according to WHO.
• Only 50 percent of member states have clinical guidelines for the treatment of hepatitis.
• Fewer than 50 percent of member states include key medications for hepatitis B treatment in their essential medicines list.
• Sixty percent of member states have publicly funded treatment programs.
WHO is developing new hepatitis C guidelines for screening, care and treatment. Some of the report's recommendations for improving viral hepatitis practices include developing a written national strategy or plan focused on viral hepatitis, conducting regular prevalence surveys, training healthcare providers, establishing national treatment guidelines and including hepatitis medications in essential medicines lists.
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