MINSK, 20 November (BelTA) – Belarus will increase the purchase of modern medications to treat hepatitis C twofold, Belarus' Healthcare Minister Valery Malashko told reporters, BelTA has learned.
“In 2017 alone, we used the latest treatment protocols to treat over 1,000 patients having hepatitis C. We see that the treatment works. This year we are set to double the purchase of these medicines. Next year the number of hepatitis C patients to be treated using modern treatment protocols will increase,” Valery Malashko said.
The minister noted that in 2017 Belarus started domestic production of advanced medicines to treat this disease, which allowed making these drugs cheaper. More than that, the country boasts one of Europe's most inexpensive and affordable hepatitis C treatments.
Hepatitis often goes hand in hand with HIV. Nearly three quarters of HIV + people are also infected with hepatitis virus. The recent years have seen an increase in HIV cases, which is, first of all, due to more extensive diagnostics of this disease. Belarus has considerable achievements in HIV treatment and prevention.
Belarus is actively involved in the 90–90–90 campaign implemented by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and partners in 2016-2021. The aim of the campaign is to diagnose 90% of all HIV-positive persons, provide antiretroviral therapy for 90% of those diagnosed, and achieve viral suppression for 90% of those treated by 2020.
Minsk is hosting the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) Regional Consultation on Expanding Access to Affordable and Quality Assured Antiretroviral and Antituberculosis medicines on 20-22 November. Taking part in the forum are healthcare ministers, representatives of drug procurement authorities and watchdogs regulating the pharmaceutical market.
