Comparison of prevention, screening and treatment of hepatitis C in Iran, Egypt and Georgia
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents one of the major public health challenges worldwide. HCV is a blood-borne pathogen associated with a high rate of mortality and imposes a dramatic societal and economic burden on health systems. Untreated chronic HCV infection can progress to liver cirrho...
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doaj-63cf6daa166149babb8ba2aaf2210fb72021-05-05T04:04:13ZengElsevierJournal of Virus Eradication2055-66402019-04-0152116121Comparison of prevention, screening and treatment of hepatitis C in Iran, Egypt and GeorgiaMasoud Behzadifar0Hasan Abolghasem Gorji1Aziz Rezapour2Nicola Luigi Bragazzi3Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranHealth Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Corresponding author: Hasan Abolghasem Gorji Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranHealth Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranSchool of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genoa, ItalyHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents one of the major public health challenges worldwide. HCV is a blood-borne pathogen associated with a high rate of mortality and imposes a dramatic societal and economic burden on health systems. Untreated chronic HCV infection can progress to liver cirrhosis and cancer. Lessons can be learned from countries such as Egypt and Georgia that are considered to be ‘on-track’ for the World Health Organization HCV elimination targets, as well as countries such as Iran that are ‘working towards elimination’. This article compares HCV-related policies and strategies in Iran, Egypt and Georgia to identify programme strengths and limitations that could inform policy and decision makers in Iran. Controlling and eliminating HCV remain a serious public health challenge. The rising HCV incidence could generate a dramatic economic burden in the coming years. Therefore, Iran requires a strategic plan to fight HCV. Adequate cultural and social infrastructures are needed. Centres specifically devoted to the diagnosis and management of this infection should be used for screening and delivery of inexpensive and high-quality testing. Quick initiation of treatment should take place at lower costs to facilitate access to treatment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2055664020300534hepatitis C viruscontent analysishealth policiesIranEgyptGeorgia |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Masoud Behzadifar Hasan Abolghasem Gorji Aziz Rezapour Nicola Luigi Bragazzi |
spellingShingle |
Masoud Behzadifar Hasan Abolghasem Gorji Aziz Rezapour Nicola Luigi Bragazzi Comparison of prevention, screening and treatment of hepatitis C in Iran, Egypt and Georgia Journal of Virus Eradication hepatitis C virus content analysis health policies Iran Egypt Georgia |
author_facet |
Masoud Behzadifar Hasan Abolghasem Gorji Aziz Rezapour Nicola Luigi Bragazzi |
author_sort |
Masoud Behzadifar |
title |
Comparison of prevention, screening and treatment of hepatitis C in Iran, Egypt and Georgia |
title_short |
Comparison of prevention, screening and treatment of hepatitis C in Iran, Egypt and Georgia |
title_full |
Comparison of prevention, screening and treatment of hepatitis C in Iran, Egypt and Georgia |
title_fullStr |
Comparison of prevention, screening and treatment of hepatitis C in Iran, Egypt and Georgia |
title_full_unstemmed |
Comparison of prevention, screening and treatment of hepatitis C in Iran, Egypt and Georgia |
title_sort |
comparison of prevention, screening and treatment of hepatitis c in iran, egypt and georgia |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
Journal of Virus Eradication |
issn |
2055-6640 |
publishDate |
2019-04-01 |
description |
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents one of the major public health challenges worldwide. HCV is a blood-borne pathogen associated with a high rate of mortality and imposes a dramatic societal and economic burden on health systems. Untreated chronic HCV infection can progress to liver cirrhosis and cancer. Lessons can be learned from countries such as Egypt and Georgia that are considered to be ‘on-track’ for the World Health Organization HCV elimination targets, as well as countries such as Iran that are ‘working towards elimination’. This article compares HCV-related policies and strategies in Iran, Egypt and Georgia to identify programme strengths and limitations that could inform policy and decision makers in Iran. Controlling and eliminating HCV remain a serious public health challenge. The rising HCV incidence could generate a dramatic economic burden in the coming years. Therefore, Iran requires a strategic plan to fight HCV. Adequate cultural and social infrastructures are needed. Centres specifically devoted to the diagnosis and management of this infection should be used for screening and delivery of inexpensive and high-quality testing. Quick initiation of treatment should take place at lower costs to facilitate access to treatment. |
topic |
hepatitis C virus content analysis health policies Iran Egypt Georgia |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2055664020300534 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT masoudbehzadifar comparisonofpreventionscreeningandtreatmentofhepatitisciniranegyptandgeorgia AT hasanabolghasemgorji comparisonofpreventionscreeningandtreatmentofhepatitisciniranegyptandgeorgia AT azizrezapour comparisonofpreventionscreeningandtreatmentofhepatitisciniranegyptandgeorgia AT nicolaluigibragazzi comparisonofpreventionscreeningandtreatmentofhepatitisciniranegyptandgeorgia |
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