TEHRAN –Iran and the World Health Organization have agreed to create a joint working group with the aim of eradicating hepatitis C in the country.

Deputy health minister Hassan Farshidi in a meeting with WHO’s Assistant Director General for Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases, Jerome Salomon, underscored the establishment of a joint working group to eliminate hepatitis C.

The officials met on the sidelines of the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) held in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 27 to June 1.

During the meeting, Farshidi presented a report on the measures taken in Iran to control and prevent hepatitis C and stressed the key strengths of Iran's national program, including the strong primary health care services (PHC) and the integration of the programs to fight and manage hepatitis.

Salomon, for his part, lauded Iran for its commitment and strong will in the elimination of hepatitis C and announced WHO’s readiness to support Iran's plans in this area.

He also called Iran a role model for other regional countries in the elimination and control of hepatitis C.

The two sides agreed to establish a joint working group to support the eradication of hepatitis C program in Iran.

Also, a team of experts from the World Health Organization is scheduled to visit Iran to assess the strengths and needs in eliminating hepatitis C.

The 77th WHA

The strategic roundtables of the 77th WHA spanned the overarching theme of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly: All for health, health for all.

During the meeting, experts discuss and reflect on current and future priorities and challenges facing global health, IRNA quoted the deputy health minister, Mohammad Hossein Niknam, as saying.

Einollahi presented a statement on 34 specific documents related to the country's health system.

To promote collaborations, Einollahi held meetings with his counterparts from different countries including Armenia, Pakistan, Cuba, Zimbabwe, China, the health ministries of the G5 countries, and the Director General of the WHO.

Hepatitis C to be eliminated in 2 years

The ministry of health is planning to eradicate hepatitis C across the country within a period of 2 to 3 years.

If the necessary budget is provided, we will eliminate hepatitis within two to three years,” ISNA quoted Shahnam Arshi, a health ministry official, as saying.

Universities of medical science have put the eradication of hepatitis C in the spotlight, he stressed.

An estimated 200,000 people in the country are infected with hepatitis C, Arshi noted, adding that the ministry has been importing diagnosis kits for identifying patients.

In August 2023, Saeid Karimi, the deputy health minister, said that free treatment for hepatitis C is provided for patients in the country.

"We hope to eliminate hepatitis C from the country with insurance coverage and other efficient measures," IRNA quoted Karimi as saying.

“To be able to do so, many patients have been diagnosed and registered in the [treatment] systems,” he added.

So far, some 600 patients under insurance coverage have been treated free of charge, he noted.

Iran is planning to provide free diagnosis and treatment services to people who are suffering from hepatitis and eradicate the disease by 2030.

MT/ MG