Subscribe
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

Hepatitis B functional cure

New innovations are bringing us closer than ever to a functional cure for hepatitis B, which could be transformative for people living with hepatitis B.  

What is a functional cure? 

A functional cure is achieved when the hepatitis B virus remains in the liver, but it is inactive and suppressed, so there is no reactivation, disease progression, or chance of onward transmission. It is a finite treatment that gets someone living with hepatitis B to the same state as someone who has naturally cleared the virus.  

Given the new advancements in research, WHA developed a fact sheet for community advocates that outlines key terms related to a hepatitis B functional cure and the types of compounds that are in development.  

Click here to download the fact sheet

Webinar: Hepatitis B functional cure: what does it mean and how close are we to reaching it? 

On Tuesday 16 December 2025, WHA organised a webinar to provide an overview of what a functional cure is and the science driving its development.  

Chaired by Rachel Halford, President of WHA, the webinar explored the types of treatment that are currently in the clinical pipeline, as presented by Dr Thomas Tu, WHA WPRO Board Member; Associate Professor, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research; Cofounder, Director, and Chair of Hep B Voices Australia; and Founder and Executive Director of HepBcommunity.org.  

The event also discussed what achieving a functional cure could mean for people living with hepatitis B.  

Webinar supported by Aligos Therapeutics, GSK, and Virion Therapeutics

Sign up to receive updates from WHA

Name(Required)
I would like to hear about(Required)
Confirm consent(Required)

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices.

Supported by Cepheid Europe

Session description:

The symposium will include a panel discussion session that will explore the latest advancements in hepatitis diagnostics, focusing on three key areas: integration of diagnostic technologies, acceleration of testing processes, and elimination of barriers to widespread screening. Experts will share insights on how these transformative approaches can enhance early detection, treatment, and prevention of hepatitis, leading to improved patient outcomes globally.

Panellists

Maud Lemoine, Danjuma Adda, Dr. Jorge Antonio Valencia La Rosa, Dr. Elaine Saayman, Cristiana Merendeiro

 

Session agenda

11:30 – 11:40 Chair: Giten Khwairakpam, TREAT Asia/amfAR, Thailand and Judy Chang, INPUD, Italy

Welcome and Introductions

11:40 – 11:50 Thomas Seyler, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) , Portugal

Monitoring viral hepatitis elimination among PWID in Europe.

11:50 – 11:55 Ema Pos, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, Portugal

If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed: lessons from a decentralised infectious disease consultation.

11:55 – 12:00 Brian Conway, Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre, Canada

Community Pop – up Clinic: Cascade of care and hepatitis C treatment of Vancouver’s inner – city PWID populations.

12:00 – 12:05 Mercy Nyakowa, National AIDs & STI Control Program: Ministry of Health, Kenya

HCV and HBV prevalence and associated risk factors among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in Kenya.

12:05 – 12:10 Nalinikanta Rajkumar, Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE), India

Rapid regimen of hepatitis B vaccination: Does it work for high risk groups?

12:10 – 12:25 All speakers

Q&A and discussion.

12:25 – 12:30 Chairs

Closing remarks.

Chairs

Danjuma Adda, WHA Past President and WHS 2024 Programme co-chair  

Meg Doherty, Director of the Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programmes and WHS Programme co-chair 

Panelists 

Rebecca Johnson, Lived experience community advocate, Australia

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, WHO (video), Switzerland

Rita Sá Machado, Direção-Geral da Saúde, Ministry of Health of Portugal 

Dr Tenu Avafia, Deputy Executive Director, Unitaid, Switzerland

Aurélia Nguyen, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Switzerland (video)

Alexis Goosdeel, Director, EMCDDA, Portugal

Ricardo Fernandes, CEO, GAT , Portugal

Dr Francisco Leite, Executive Director, UNITE, Portugal 

Dr René-Hubert Mendo’o Medjo, Senior Technical Officer, Endemic diseases and NTDs Unit, Division of Disease Prevention and Control (DCP), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention , Ethiopia

Dr Shekwonugaza Gwamna, Honourable Commissioner of Health, Nasarawa State Government, Nigeria 

Rachel Halford, President, World Hepatitis Alliance, United Kingdom

Chairs: Dr Meg Doherty, WHO, Switzerland and Dr Mohamed Hassany, WHO, Egypt

Session agenda

Chairs

11:30 – 11:35 Maria Buti, EASL Public Health Councilor Spain and Niklas Luhmann, World Health Organization Switzerland

Welcome and introductions

11:35 – 11:40 Ibrahima Gueye, Association Saafara Hépatites Sénégal, Ghana

My journey with hepatitis delta

11:40 – 11:50 Maria Buti, EASL Public Health Councilor, Spain

Hepatitis delta overview including screening challenges.

11:50 – 12:00 Niklas Luhmann, World Health Organization, Switzerland

Introduction to WHO guidance on hepatitis Delta

12:00- 12:05 Naranjargal Dashdorj, Onom Foundation, Mongolia

Viral hepatitis among children and young adults in rural Mongolia: Progress towards elimination – focus on hepatitis delta.

12:05 – 12:10 Yasmin Ibrahim, Hepatitis B Foundation, United States of America (USA)

Social capital benefits and emotional impact of joining hepatitis B & D community advisory board.

12:10 – 12:25 All speakers

Q&A and discussion.

12:25 – 12:30 Chairs

Closing remarks.

Chairs

10:30 – 10:35 Julia Sheehan, The Hepatitis C Trust, United Kingdom and Prof. Henrique de Barros, Institute of Public Health University of Porto, Portugal

Welcome and introductions

Panellists

10:35 – 10:45 Dr Filipa Alves da Costa, WHO, Portugal

Hepatitis in prisons report.

10:45 – 10:50 Robert Kosasih, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Indonesia

Piloting service delivery models to scale up hepatitis C screening and treatment within prisons in Indonesia.

10:50 – 10:55 Sean Cox, Hepatitis C Trust,
United Kingdom (UK)

What effect did a HCV peer led programme have in the UK’s largest prison in a 6 month period?

10:55 – 11:00 Dr Nadine Kronfli, McGill University Healthcare Centre, Canada

Optimizing linkage to HCV care for untreated individuals released from Canadian provincial prisons.

11:00 – 11:05 Dr Matthew Akiyama, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, United States of America (USA)

Understanding global hepatitis C advocacy needs to inform the development of a Prisons Advocacy Toolkit.

11:05 – 11:25 All speakers

Q&A and discussion.

11:25 – 11:30 Chairs

Closing remarks

Chairs

Manal Ghazzawi, KnowHep Foundation SL, Sierra Leone and Reshu Agarwal, NPO (HIV, Viral Hepatitis and STI Treatment, Care & Support), India WHO CO

Panellists

10:35 – 10:45 Saeed Hamid, Agha Khan, Pakistan

Enhancing prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) interventions.

10:45 – 10:50 Huma Qureshi, Pakistan

Pilot project to introduce hepatitis B birth dose vaccine within 24 hours of delivery in Pakistan.

10:50 – 10:55 Bao Vu, Vietnam

Integrated approach to eliminating mother – to – child transmission of hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis in Vietnam.

10:55 – 11:00 Edina Amponsah – Dacosta, South Africa

Perinatal HIV exposure and risk of viral hepatitis in a South African paediatric population.

11:00 – 11:05 Mohammad Ali, Bangladesh

Capacity building of midwives for PMTCT of hepatitis B in Bangladesh.

11:05 – 11:25 All speakers

Q&A and discussion.

 11:25 – 11:30 Chairs

Closing remarks.

Chairs

Jessica Hicks, World Hepatitis Alliance, United Kingdom and Arafat Bwambale, Great Lakes Peace Centre-Kasese District Local Government, Uganda

Welcome and introductions

Panellists

10:35 – 10:45 Yves Miel Zuniga, United for Global Mental Health (United GMH), Philippines

From advocacy to action: integrating mental health.

10:45 – 10:50

Q&A

10:50 – 10:55

 “I can’t wait” video presentation

10:55 – 11:05 David Urick, Patient Advocate, United States of America (USA)

11:05 – 11:10 Matthew Hibbert, The UK Health Security Agency, United Kingdom (UK)

Testing and treatment for hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus in mental health settings in England.

11:15 – 11:25 All speakers

 Q&A and discussion.

 11:25 – 11:30 Chairs

 Closing remarks.

What is stopping us from achieving triple elimination? The panel will provide insights into how organisations and institutions from across the three disease areas can better work together to achieve this shared goal, including the process needed to transform from a single/dual elimination service into one that effectively addresses all three.

Chairs

Funmi Lesi, WHO, Switzerland and Lien Tran, WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Doherty Institute, Australia

Panellists

Dr Micheal Besong, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Switzerland

Oriel Fernandes, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Rwanda

Fekadu Yadeta Muleta, Ministry of Health, Ethiopia

Karin Timmermans, Unitaid, Switzerland

Dr Rania Tohme, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA

Dr Chatree Jullapetch, Ministry of Health, Thailand

Supported by Gilead Europe. A showcase of real-world projects conducted by Gilead ALL4LIVER grantees across the world to highlight best practices, share tangible learnings and inspiration for future collaboration to help make the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 a reality.

Session description:

Importance of empowering the community in eliminating viral hepatitis

Session agenda:

16:45 – 16:55 Sarah Swift, Gilead

Welcome and video showcase

16:55 – 17:00 Rachel Halford, World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), United Kingdom (UK)

Welcome

17:00 – 17:40 Danjuma Adda, Center for Initiative & Development (CFID), Nigeria ,Paulo Anjos, Associação Existências, Portugal and Caroline Thomas, Yayasan Peduli Hati Bangsa, Indonesia

17:40 – 17:45 Sarah Swift, Gilead Sciences, Inc.

Recap and close

Session agenda

Chairs

15:15-15:20 Caroline Thomas, Yayasan Peduli Hati Bangsa, Indonesia and Cary James World Hepatitis Alliance United Kingdom

Panellists

15:20-15:25 Shaibu Issa, Organization for Medical Outreach to Community, Tanzania

My experience fighting stigma and discrimination 

15:25-15:30 Ivana Dragojevic, Patient Representative, Serbia

My fight with stigma and discrimination 

Ana Finatto – Canabarro, ECDC, Sweden

Understanding hepatitis stigma in Europe.

15:40 – 15:45 Freddy Green, UKHSA, United Kingdom (UK)

Systematic review of the measurement of stigma associated with hepatitis B or hepatitis C: preliminary findings.

15:45 – 15:50 Olivia Dawson, International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU), Australia

Storytelling for advocacy – a mentoring program in Kenya and South Africa.

15:50 – 15:55 Ice Huang, Inno Community Development Organisation, China

What 500 stories of stigma and discrimination against hepatitis tell us?

15:55 – 16:20 All speakers

Q&A and discussion.

16:20 – 16:25 Chairs

Closing remarks

The power of community-led services in elimination

This session explores the value of community delivered services to the people they serve and to the heath-systems they support. Panellists will share good practice on the design and implementation of services and how by working together communities and healthcare systems overcame the challenges of implementation to build trust and maximise impact.

Chairs

Rachel Halford, WHA, United Kingdom and Luis Mendão, GAT, Portugal

Panellists

Danjuma Adda, Centre for Initiative and Development and Chagro Care Trust, Nigeria

Tung Doan, Y+ Global, Vietnam

Tran Dai Quang, Ministry of Health, Vietnam

Rui Tato Marinho, Ministry of Health, Portugal

Katrin Schiffer, Correlation Network, Netherlands

Stuart Smith, The Hepatitis C Trust, United Kingdom

Session agenda

Chairs

11:30 – 11:35  Dr Jane Davies, Menzies School of Health Research, Australia

Welcome and introductions

Panellists

11:35 – 11:45 Tung Doan and Zipporah Achieng, Y+ Global, Vietnam and Kenya

Unlocking youth-led advocacy for hepatitis.

11:45 – 11:50

Q&A

11:50 – 11:55 Farihah Malik, Public Health Consultant, Pakistan

Healthcare workers’ preferences about treatment of children & adolescents with hepatitis B infection.

11:55 – 12:00 Garba Dunjuma, Women and Children Health Empowerment Foundation (WACHEF), Nigeria

Knowledge, Hepatitis B and C Testing and Hepatitis B Vaccine among YPLHIV Attending OTZ Clubs.

12:00 – 12:05 Zunaid Paiker, Bangladesh

Strategic partnerships to amplify hepatitis awareness among diverse audiences in Bangladesh.

12:05 – 12:25 All speakers

Q&A and discussion.

12:25 – 12:30 Chairs

Closing remarks.

Organised by The Hepatitis C Trust, NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)

Session description

This session will describe the innovative multi-sector approaches that have been taken in England to accelerate progress towards elimination, including large scale investment and partnership working to deliver testing and treatment at scale, harnessing peer involvement to embed a human-rights based approach to elimination, and the strengthening and use of national surveillance and other data to target and evaluate initiatives. It will also describe some of the challenges faced and how systems will need to adapt with changing epidemiology as we approach elimination and through to maintenance.

Session objectives

1. To describe the journey taken in England to harness investment and political support to accelerate progress towards elimination
2. To describe the range of innovative multi-sector testing and treatment initiatives delivered in England and their relative contribution to the elimination agenda
3. To discuss the pivotal role of peers in supporting elimination activities and embedding a human rights and inclusion health-based approach
4. To discuss the role of strengthened surveillance, monitoring and other data in evidencing progress towards elimination, evaluating the impact of interventions and supporting targeted case finding and treatment
5. To debate the challenges that changing epidemiology and reliance on the continued commitment of the health and social care system will bring as we move to maintenance.

Chair

Philippa Easterbrook

Panellists

Philippa Easterbrook

Introduction 

Monica Desai

Overview of current progress to elimination 

Roadmap of the journey to elimination in England

Rachel Halford and Mark Gillyon-Powell

1. Planning the response

Mark Gillyon-Powell

2. Driving the response 

Rachel Halford

Pivotal role of peers, human rights and stigma

Ruth Simmons and Monica Desai

Evaluating the response 

Philippa Easterbrook, World Health Organization, Switzerland

Concluding remarks 

Desafios para alcançar as metas da OMS sobre hepatite viral nos países lusófonos

Challenges to reach WHO viral hepatitis goals in lusophone countries. 

Panellists

Luis Mendão, GAT, Portugal

Marcelo Naveira, WHO EURO, Brazil

Rui Tato Marinho, Hospital Santa Maria, Portugal

Mario Gonzalez, Ministry of Health, Brazil

Rodrigo Pinheiro, FOAESP – Forum das ONG AIDS do Estado de São Paulo, Brazil

Graça Daniel,
Instituto Nacional de Luta contra Sida, Angola

Rosa Pedro, Mwanho, Angola

Session objectives

1. Present background on why self-test for hepatitis and WHO recommendations

2. Present and discuss country experiences and cross-cutting lessons learned on HCV self-testing

3. Community perspectives

Session agenda

Chairs

Niklas Luhmann, WHO, Switzerland and Karin Timmermans, Unitaid, Switzerland

Panellists:

11:30 – 11:40 Sahar Bajis, WHO, Switzerland

Self-testing is the new normal: Where do we stand with hepatitis self-testing?

11:40 – 11:55 Karin Hatzold,  PSI, South Africa

Hepatitis C self-testing: Lessons learned and implementation considerations from the STAR initiative.

 11:55 – 12:02 Muhammad Khawar Aslam, Médecins sans frontières, Belgium

Abstract 1: Feasibility study of hepatitis C self-testing in a high-prevalence informal settlement in Karachi, Pakistan.

12:02 – 12:09 

Abstract 2: Empowering communities via self-testing app for hepatitis B & C detection, vigilance & surveillance.

12:09 – 12:14 Caroline Thomas, Yayasan Peduli Hati Bangsa, Indonesia

Community perspective on hepatitis C self-testing.

12:14 – 12:30 All presenters

Q&A: Panel discussion and closing. 

Session agenda

Chairs

11:30 – 11:35 John Ward, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination (CGHE), United States of America (USA) and Patricia Velez-Moller

Welcome and introductions.

Panellists

Australia’s national policy framework to eliminate hepatitis B and hepatitis C by 2030.

11:40 – 11:45 Loreta Kondili, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Italy

Successes and Challenges of Hepatitis C Virus Elimination in Italy.

11:45 – 11:50 Chia – Yen Dai, Liver Research Foundation

Elimination of Hepatitis C: Important Roles of Government and Non-Government Organization.

11:55 – 12:00 Maria Eugenia de Feo Moyano, Fundación HCV Sin Fronteras, Argentina

Leave no one behind without care for viral hepatitis union and cooperation in Latin America. 

12:00 – 12:25 All speakers

Q&A and discussion.

12:25 – 12:30 Chairs

Closing remarks.

Lack of financing is often the biggest and most persistent barrier we face on the path to elimination. Unlocking increased domestic financing will be a critical if we are to address this barrier. This session will explore how different countries with very different financial situations are overcoming challenges and finding financing solutions. 

Chairs

Margaret Hellard, Burnet Institute, Australia and Charles Gore, Medicines Patent Pool, Switzerland

Panellists

Mark, Gillyon-Powell, NHS England, United Kingdom

Thandar Naing, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Myanmar

Homie Razavi, CDA Foundation, USA

Carolyn Wester, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA

Organised by ICE – HBV

Session agenda:

08:15  –  08:20 ICE – HBV

Welcome and introductions.

08:20  –  08:32 Hélène Kerth, ICE-HBV, Germany

Cure types and how can we tell if a person has achieved a functional cure? 

08:40  –  08:50 Anna Kramvis, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

How could treatment be improved to achieve a functional cure.

08:50  –  09:00 John Ward, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination (CGHE), United States of America (USA)

How can this be deployable equitably world – wide, including in low- or middle-income country (LMIC)?

Yasmin Ibrahim, Hepatitis B Foundation

09:00  –  09:10 All speakers

Q&A and discussion.

09:10 –  09:15 Chairs

Closing remarks.

Chairs

Philippa Easterbrook, World Health Organization, Switzerland

Gamal Shiha, World Hepatitis Alliance, Egypt

Welcome and introductions

Panellists

17:05 – 17:10 Abate Bane, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia

Increasing burden of acute hepatitis A in Ethiopia: Call for inclusion of hepatitis A vaccine in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).

17:10 17:15 Iza Ciglenecki, Médecins Sans Frontières, Switzerland 

Safety of hepatitis E vaccine in pregnancy: emulating a target trial in South Sudan 

17:20 – 17:30 All speakers

Q&A and discussion.

17:30 – 17:40 Chairs

Closing remarks.

Chairs

Rob Brierley, Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, United Kingdom and Kim Green, PATH, USA

Panellists

15:20 – 15:25 Nhan Thi Do, Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control, Vietnam

Success in integrating and decentralising hepatitis C services into HIV treatment facilities in Vietnam.

15:25 – 15:30 Indrajit Ghosh, Mortimer Market Centre, United Kingdom (UK)

An integrated care pathway for people living with chronic viral hepatitis in North Central London.

15:30 – 15:35 Lien Tran,  WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Doherty Institute, Australia

Co – morbidities in hepatitis B patients in Australian primary care and the need for holistic care.

15:35 – 15:40 Irem Ozdemir, Living with hepatitis association (HEPYASAM), Turkey

Collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) established in other fields and increased visibility on social media.

15:40-15:45 Anna Khoperia, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) Georgia, Georgia

Liver cancer in HCV-infected individuals and association with treatment and cure, Georgia, 2015-2022 . 

15:45 – 15:50 Muhammad Ahmar Khan, Association for Social Development, Pakistan

Integrating hepatitis C “test – treat – prevent” care into primary health care in a developing country context.

15:50 – 15:55 Chidinma Umebido,Jhpiego Nigeria, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, HIV and Infectious Diseases,  Nigeria

Feasibility and impact of decentralisation and integration of hepatitis C care cascade in Nigeria.

15:55- 16:40 All speakers

Q&A and discussion.

16:40 – 16:45 Chairs

Closing remarks.

Chair:

15:15-15:20 Daniel Simoes, Coalition PLUS, Portugal and Wendy Spearman, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Welcome and introductions.

Panellists

15:20 – 15:25 Abdullah Mahmood, Chittagong Medical College, Bangladesh

Seropositivity and risk factors of hepatitis B & hepatitis C in transgender population in urban areas of Bangladesh.

15:25 – 15:30 Hassan Mahmood, Integral Global, Pakistan

Prevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections among transgender people and men who have sex with men (MSM) in Pakistan.

15:35 – 15:40 Bao Vu, PATH, Vietnam

Integrated approach to micro – elimination of hepatitis B and hepatitis C among key populations in Vietnam.

15:40 – 15:45 Anthony Garba Dorofi, Hope for Healthy Life Foundation (HohLiF), Nigeria

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C stigma, and discrimination among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Taraba State.

15:45 – 16:35 All speakers

Q&A and discussion.

16:35 – 16:45 Chairs

Closing remarks.

Session description

This session will describe the history, development and delivery of Emergency Department (ED) opt out testing in England. It will provide an overview of the roles of delivery partners, the commissioning of the service, tools to drive delivery and the challenges faced. Lessons will be applicable to other case finding methodologies.

10:30 – 10:35 Dr Niklas Luhmann, WHO, Switzerland

Welcome and opening remarks.

10:35 – 10:50 Ian Jackson, NHS England, United Kingdom

Emergency department opt-out testing: a brief history, overview and achievements.

10:50 – 11:15 (Table leads – Ian Jackson, Mark Gillyon-Powell, Dr Stuart Flanagan, Carrie Gardner, Dr Sahar Bajis, Dr Niklas Luhmann)

Facilitated table work 

11:15 – 11:25 (Table leads)

Brief feedback 

11:25 – 11:30 Dr Niklas Luhmann, WHO, Switzerland

Closing remarks

Session objectives

This session will focus on how to improve collection and use of country data to drive the national hepatitis response.

1. Understanding the the need to generate and use data to drive decisions for actions

2. Using country data for action and investment

3. Using data for impact assessment

Session agenda

Chairs:

Rania Tohm, USCDC and Daniel Low Beer, WHO HQ

Welcome and introduction

Panellists:

11:35 – 11:45 Daniel Low beer, WHO 

Hepatitis data can drive access and action- WHO strategic information guidance

11:45 – 11:55 Homie Razavi, CDA

Data for action- using country data for hepatitis investment

11:55 – 12:05 Dr Sema Mandal, UK

HBV PMTCT : data triangulation for estimation of impact

12:05 – 12:15 Ahmed Sabry, EMRO

Surveillance for viral hepatitis mortality

12:15 – 12:30 All presenters

Q&A Panel discussion and closing

Chair

Cary James, WHA, United Kingdom

Session agenda:

11:35 – 11:45 Lucica Ditiu, Stop TB Partnership

11.45 – 11:55 Zahedul Islam, Alliance for Public Health Ukraine 

11:55 – 12:05 Muhammad Ahmar Khan

12:05 – 12:25 All speakers

Q&A and discussion

12:25 – 12:30 Chairs

Closing remarks

Join us for this session to explore the opportunity to create a World Hepatitis Testing Week later in 2024. We will learn from the experience of European Testing Week and discuss how we can create an event that will increase testing for hepatitis around the world.

Are we facing a crisis of undiagnosed chronic hepatitis B in Europe? Data coming out of the UK and Spain suggests that large numbers of hepatitis B cases are going undetected. And if it’s true in the UK and Spain  – could it also be true in other parts of Europe? Join this session to hear about the latest findings and discuss what needs to be done to address it on a regional, national and local level. 

Organised by Medicines Patent Pool and World Hepatitis Alliance

Background

Hepatitis B and C are treatable, with cost effective services that can be delivered easily within primary health care. However, most countries are still not on track to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) target to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

As per WHO, there are better tools and data than ever to prevent, diagnose and treat viral hepatitis, including vaccines and effective treatments for hepatitis B and a cure for hepatitis C. While most of WHO recommended treatments are now available in their generic form and prices for certain recommended combinations dropped as low as USD 33 per treatment course for treating HCV and USD 2.4 per month for treating HBV in low-and-middle-income countries, access to treatments for people in need in LMICs is very much lagging global objectives. While price of medicines is key, access to viral treatment is often hindered by other factors such as lack of awareness on viral hepatitis, prices of diagnostics and their limited decentralization, lack of funding for viral hepatitis programs, as well as discrimination of certain groups most vulnerable to viral hepatitis.

Session objectives

What are the remaining challenges for equitable access? This 75 min panel discussion aims to answer this question, by identifying the roadblocks on the way to viral hepatitis treatment access and propose solutions to address them. It aims to understand what treatments are currently available for LMICs, current prices, and what remains to be done to ensure viral hepatitis elimination.

Chairs

Jessica Hicks, World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), United Kingdom (UK) and Mila Maistat, Medicines Patent Pool, Switzerland.

Panellists

Meg Doherty, WHO, Switzerland

Key highlights from WHO Access Report

Tenu Avafia, Unitaid, Switzerland

Market shaping and access: the Unitaid approach.

Charles Gore, Medicines Patent Pool, Switzerland

The role of access in viral hepatitis elimination

Dr Sandhya Kabra, Deputy Commissioner NVHCP & Additional Director, NCDC MoHFW, India

Insights into India’s efforts in addressing the challenges related to hepatitis treatment.

Dr Rita Atugonza, Vaccines and Immunization Division, Ministry of Health, Uganda

Insights into Uganda’s efforts in addressing the challenges related to hepatitis prevention and treatment

Aisuluu Bolotbayeva, EATG

Community and access

All

Panel discussion

Co-Chairs

Closing

Session objectives

Organised by GAP-f

Recap from the first Task Team focussed on HCV among paediatric populations.

Guidelines
Paediatric DAA uptake
Need to revisit prioritization
Potential programming approaches.

Session agenda

08:00 – 08:05 Farihah Malik, GAP-f, Pakistan

Welcome, Setting the Stage, and Review of paediatric direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatments.

08:05 – 08:20

Introductions

08:20 – 08:45

Q&A and discussion

Session description:

Efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis must actively involve people with lived experience to ensure they are effective, equitable, and responsive to the needs of those affected by the disease.

Lived experience plays a vital role across the world in driving efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis by informing public health strategies, engaging communities, providing support, driving research and innovation, advocating for policy change, and humanizing the issue.


This interactive workshop will explore the role of lived experience within viral hepatitis elimination across the world.

Showcasing the journey of the Hepatitis C Trust peer programme in the UK, we will evidence the impact of patients sitting as key stakeholders within a national elimination programme.

Drawing on participants’ experience in their home countries, we will explore the role of lived experience in current viral hepatitis programmes globally, their aims and aspirations for the future, and the barriers and facilitators to expanding the role of lived experience as we move towards elimination.

We welcome people with lived experience and others from across the world to attend this workshop – share their experiences and be a part of creating a current global picture of the role of patient involvement in the elimination of viral hepatitis.

Community Corner

11:00 – 11:30

WHA Members gathering in Community Corner.

Poster Tours

Inferior Foyer, Screen 1

Chair: Capucine Penicaud, Medicines Patent Pool

Abstracts:

B Referred: Supporting clinicians to understand and utilise all care options for hepatitis B – Isabelle Purcell
Real world implementation of a healthcare worker hepatitis B vaccination programme in Kilifi, Kenya – Louise Downs
Cross-sector partnership in Croatian prisons – step further on the road to WHO goal: Lessons learned – Tatjana Reic
Developing a well-accepted study design for people born outside Germany – the HepMig Pilot, Germany – Dr Gyde Steffen
Epidemiology of Hepatitis B in the EU/EEA: recent trends and patients characteristics – Ndeindo Ndeikoundam
 

Inferior Foyer, Screen 2

Chair: Philippa Matthews, Francis Crick Institute

Abstracts:

Reviving a 30-year-old cohort of people who inject drugs (PWID) with peer-led recruitment strategies – Isabelle Boisvert
Progress in Hepatitis C and HIV treatment cascades among people who inject drugs in Germany – Ruth Zimmerman
Impact of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Screening in an Emergency Department in Almería, Spain – Alba Carrodeguas
Development and prototyping of rapid immunochromatographic tests for the diagnosis of hepatitis D – Thiciany Blener Lopes
Implementation of the Educate, Test, and Treat Outreach Model in Shabu Village, Nigeria – Riham Soliman

Community Corner Discussion Area

14:00 – 14:30 Abdourahmane Diouria Diallo, SOS Hepatities Guinee

“Les difficultés de prise en charge des hépatites virales en Afrique :Exemple la Guinée / Difficulties in treating viral hepatitis in Africa: Example of Guinea.”

14:35 – 15:05 Lorena Stoopen,
FundHepa, Mexico

“Hepatitis C eradication. From identification of the HCV to effective treatment and follow up to eradication in Mexico.”

Community Corner Stand

14:00 – 14:30 Prof Mohammad Ali, National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh, Bangaldesh

“Showcasing National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh.”

14:35 – 15:05 – “Manal Ghazzawi, KnowHep, Sierra Leone 

“A cry for help: harm reduction strategies among K2 spice users vs the fight against hepatitis B. Both a public health crisis in Sierra Leone.”

Community Corner Discussion Area

11:30 – 12:00 Hazel Heal, Global Health NZ, New Zealand

“Cure-a-Country – Island by island elimination in the Pacific with civil society support”

Community Corner Stand

11:30 – 12:00 Maria Eugenia, Fundacion HCV Sin Fronteras, Argentina

“Viral hepatitis – Universal coverage – A question of human rights. HepaRed Latin America and the Caribbean”

Poster Tours

Inferior Foyer, Screen 1

Chair:Mitchell Leus, Forum for Collaborative Research

Abstracts:

Suboptimal retention and treatment rate in HBV care continuum in Hong Kong – Michael Ko Kwan Lung
Seroconversion of Hepatitis C during dialysis in Major cities of Pakistan – Muhammad Fareed Muslim
Immediate postpartum cessation of tenofovir in HBsAg+ pregnant mothers: maternal and infant outcomes – Loey Lung-Yi Mak
Trends and needs of HCV elimination among PWID in Georgia – Maka Gogia
Assessing barriers to hepatitis B and D screening, prevention, and care for people who inject drugs – Yasmin Ibrahim
 

Inferior Foyer, Screen 2

Chair: Zunaid Paiker, National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh

Abstracts:

Advancing data-driven decision-making for Hepatitis B vaccination – Laurent Louette
Leveraging financing landscaping assessments to scale viral hepatitis services in Nigeria (356) – Chukwuemeka Agwuocha, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Abuja, Nigeria
Introduction of post-vaccination serologic testing for babies born to HBsAg+ mothers in Hong Kong – Bonnie Chun Kwan Wong
Community-based interventions for HBV and HCV screening and linkage to care among migrants in Spain – Aina Nicolas
Seroprevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B and C viral infection among DM at KCMC, Tanzania – Doreen T Eliah

Community Corner Discussion Area

14:00 – 14:30 Justin Webb, World Hepatitis Alliance

“Community Impact Programme.”

14:35 – 15:05 Tatjana Reic, Hepatos, Croatia

“Adressing medical deserts: Importance of outreach/linkage-to-care services on the path to microelimination/WHO elimination goal.”

Community Corner Stand

14:00 – 14:30 Arafat Bwambale, Great Lakes Peace Centre, Uganda

“#NohepYouthmovement: Leveraging grass root youth to eliminate hepatitis.”

14:35 – 15:05 Princess Adepeju Ogunleye,
SEHAM Healthcare Foundation, Nigeria

“Community Activities”

Community Corner Discussion Area

11:00 – 11:30 Anil Jaykarbhai Parmar, United Way Mumbai, India

“Challenges of Working with Vulnerable Communities on Hepatitis in underserved communities.”

Community Corner Stand

11:00 – 11:30 Olivia Dawson, INHSU, Australia

“INHSU 2024 Athens Conference”

Poster Tours

Inferior Foyer, Screen 1

Chair: Yasmin Ibrahim, Hepatitis B Foundation

Abstracts:

Public health innovation to support linkage to care for people living with viral hepatitis – Mielle Abbott
Attributable fraction of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma due to viral hepatitis in Kyrgyzstan – Michael Brandl
Stigma and STBBIs: Observations from North of 60 – Felix Olaney
Strengthening referral pathways for hepatitis services among donors at blood banks in Madhya Pradesh (263) – Parag Govil, William J Clinton Foundation, New Delhi, India
Active search of hepatitis C cases in Baby Boomers population in two cities in Colombia – Maria-Cristina Navas

Inferior Foyer, Screen 2

Chair: Rob Brierley, The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Abstracts:

Co-design of a people-centered model for hepatitis in primary care in Vietnam and the Philippines – Manu Gaspar
Transforming HCV test uptake through prisoner-to-prisoner testing: lessons from a UK pilot – Sean Cox
Service delivery and care cascade outcomes for people with chronic hepatitis B: systematic review – Ajeer Singh Bhadoria
Feasibility and Cost of HCV Elimination in Uruguay: Findings from HEAT Project – Victoria Mainardi
The issue of viral hepatitis care in Guinea from 2012 to 2023: Results from SOS Hépatites Guinée – Abdourahamane Diouria Diallo

Supported by AbbVie, Inc

Session description:

Mental health. stigma and addiction can place significant barriers in the way of testing and treating HCV. At this year’s World Hepatitis Summit, AbbVie is uniting leading experts, thought-leaders and stakeholders to achieve the goal of eliminating HCV by 2030. Join us as we discuss the prevalence of HCV in those with mental health diagnoses, strategies for patients with addiction and mental health challenges, and how innovative approaches are already delivering lasting local and global change.  

Moderator:

Prof. Rui Tato Marinho, Ministry of Health, Portugal

Panellists:

Dr. Filipe Calinas, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, Portugal

Dra. Elsa Belo, Ares do Pinhal, Portugal

Mobilising a whole health-system response to elimination
Integration and collaboration to improve the health of our communities.

This session will explore how hepatitis elimination can be achieved by mobilising existing resources throughout healthcare systems and how working in partnership with other disease areas will help us achieve our shared goals of improving the health and wellbeing of our communities. 

Chairs

Cary James, World Hepatitis Alliance, United Kingdom and Kim Green, PATH, Vietnam

Panellists

Cristina Fonesca, Union for International Cancer Control, Portugal

Lucica Ditiu, Stop TB Partnership, Switzerland

Mario Peribanez Gonzalez, Ministry of Health, Brazil

Kelly Hosking, Northern Territory Health, Australia

Sarah Mariyalawuy Bukulatjpi, Northern Territory Health, Australia

Yves Miel Zuñiga, United for Global Mental Health, Philippines

Amir Shroufi, The Global Fund (online)

Sandhya Kabra, Ministry of Health India

Viral hepatitis remains a major public health challenge of this decade, and the world is still far from achieving its elimination by 2030. Over 300 million people are living with hepatitis B and C globally, and over 1.3 million die each year from the complications of the disease. Many people remain undiagnosed in, the number of people receiving treatment remains incredibly low. Although medicines are available at affordable prices, many countries are still not taking full advantage of these treatments because of policy, programmatic and access barriers.

The Global Hepatitis Report 2024 is the first consolidated WHO report on viral hepatitis epidemiology, service coverage and product access, with improved data for action. This exciting report contains information from 187 countries and outlines regional perspectives and actionable steps to scale up interventions, emphasizing the importance of leveraging lessons from the COVID-19 response. Based on country gaps and barriers analysis up to 2023, the report also outlines actions to advance a public health approach to viral hepatitis in order to drive progress towards eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

Chairs

Dr Meg Doherty, Director, Department of HIV, Hepatitis and STIs, WHO HQ, Geneva

Dr Mohammed Hassany,  MOH Egypt

Panellists

Rui Tato Marinho, Santa Maria (Hospital S.Maria and Health Centers), Portugal

High level address

Dr Daniel Low-Beer, Head, SIA unit, WHO HQ Geneva

Updates in hepatitis B & C epidemiology data

Francoise Renaud, SIA unit, WHO HQ Geneva

Progress and gaps in access

Dr Huma Qureshi, MOH, Pakistan

Country Presentation

What actions have they taken for HBV and HCV access and what are the next steps to scale up.

Dr Shakhlo Sadirova, MOH, Uzbekistan

Country presentation

What actions have they taken for HBV and HCV access and what are the next steps to scale up.

Dr Meg Doherty

Official launch

Meet the stars of the “I Can’t Wait!” video series: David, Shabana and Shaibu. Learn more about their inspirational stories and ask them questions about their journeys as people living with hepatitis.

Chair

Cary James, WHA

Speakers

Shabana Begum, United Kingdom

Shaibu Issa, Tanzania

Session description

Principles of community engagement, and the importance of communities being integrated into the development and implementation of projects right from the start, are becoming increasing priorities at the global level in relation to people who use drugs.  In April 2023, Unitaid announced new investments in three projects to work on the prevention of hepatitis C among key populations – notably people who inject drugs. The projects, led by Frontline AIDS, Médecins du Monde and PATH, will work in 10 low- and middle-income countries. A key objective of the work will be to explore the feasibility and impact of introducing innovative and under-used products (long-acting depot buprenorphine and low dead-space syringes). Research will be conducted with the aim of informing policies and practices at national and global level. In addition to working in close collaboration with WHO, these projects are noteworthy due to their commitment to working in full partnership with community. 

This session will share the experience to date, in building an effective Community Advisory Board (CAB) including sharing the experience of involving communities in the design of the research.  

Chairs

Niklas Luhmann, WHO, Switzerland and Danjuma Adda, World Hepatitis Alliance, Nigeria

Panellists

16:55 – 17:00 Chairs

Introduction

17:00 – 17:10 Akko Eleveld, Unitaid, Switzerland

Engaging communities in research on the prevention of hepatitis C among key populations : a Unitaid perspective

17:10 – 17:20 Judy Chang, HCV CAB Chair/INPUD, Italy

Involving communities: creation and role of a Community Advisory Board (CAB)

17:20-17:35 Mat Southwell, Coact, Demystifying the work of the CAB – Example in Practice: LADB Master Research Protocol

17:35 – 17:45 Olexii Kvitkovsky, HCV CAB member

Community Voices – Speaking for Ourselves

17:20 – 17:30 Olexii Kvitkovsky, HCV CAB member, Ukraine

Community Voices – Speaking for Ourselves

17:30-17:45 Mat Southwell, Coact, United Kingdom

Demystifying the work of the CAB – Example in Practice: LADB Master Research Protocol

17:45-17:50 Niklas Luhmann, WHO, Switzerland

Zooming out – reflections on the experience with community input in research protocols

17:50-18:20

Q&A

18:20-18:25 Judy Chang, HCV CAB Chair/INPUD, Italy

Key messages & Lessons learnt

18:25-18:30 Niklas Luhmann, WHO, Switzerland and Danjuma Adda, World Hepatitis Alliance, Nigeria

Wrap-up

Chairs

Cary James, World Hepatitis Alliance, United Kingdom

Funmi Lesi, World Health Organization, Switzerland

Panellists

Dr.Thongchai Keeratihuttayakorn, Director-General of the Disease Control Department, Thailand 

Ms Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia (video) 

Rachel Halford, World Hepatitis Alliance, United Kingdom

Chairs

Rachel Halford, World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), United Kingdom and Danjuma Adda, World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), Nigeria

Panellists

Fungisai Siggins, Hepatitis Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

Dee Lee, Inno Asia, China

Patricia Velez-Moller, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala

Trevor Stratton, CAAN, Canada

Zipporah Achieng, National Syndemic Diseases Control Council, Kenya

Session description

The aim of this session is to present the recommendations and rationale for the new 2024 WHO global hepatitis B guidelines. Eleven key topics will be covered including:- use of non-invasive tests for staging of liver disease; who to treat in persons with chronic hepatitis B; first-line antiviral therapies for chronic hepatitis B; prevention of mother-to-children transmission using antiviral prophylaxis; treatment of adolescents and children with chronic hepatitis B; measurement of HBV DNA to guide treatment and monitoring response; HBV DNA reflex testing; hepatitis D virus testing – who to test and how to test, including reflex testing; and guiding principles for simplifiying service delivery. A panel discussion will address implications of implementing these recommendations in different countries, and the role and perspectives of civil society.

Chairs

Co-chairs: Philippa Easterbrook (WHO), Saeed Hamid (Aga Khan University, Pakistan), Polin Chan (SEARO)

Philippa Easterbrook, WHO HQ

Part 1: New HBV Guidelines

New WHO hepatitis B guidance on expanded simplified treatment criteria, diagnostic innovations and service delivery: recommendations, evidence-base and rationale 

Danjuma Adda, World Hepatitis Alliance

Community perspective 

Philippa Easterbrook, WHO HQ

Q&A

Part 2: Implementation challenges and opportunities across the regions

Perspectives from countries in different regions on implementing new guideline recommendations on key topics areas

Panellists

· Rita Atungonza (Uganda MOH)

· Rose Ada (Cameroon MOH)

· Rui Marinho (Portugal MOH)

· Keo Samley (Cambodia MOH)

· Sandya Kabra (India MOH)

· Badral Davgasuren (Mongolia MOH)

Session agenda

17:45-18:00 Dr Erika Duffell, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Sweden

Welcome and Introductions

18:00-18:30

Julia Sheehan, The Hepatitis C Trust, United Kingdom 

Integration of peers in hepatitis C prison elimination programs.

Dr Matthew Akiyama, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, United States of America (USA)

Global effective models of care to accelerate elimination.

Dr Nadine Kronfli, McGill University Health Centre, Canada

Role of harm reduction as the last element needed in the prison elimination package.

18:30-18:45

Q&A and discussion

Session agenda

Chairs

Dee Lee, Inno Asia, China and Philippa Matthews, The Francis Crick Institute United Kingdom

Panellists

Olivia Dawson, International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU), Australia

Elimination of Hepatitis Through Partnership, Engagement, Digital and AI-Based Systems in Quetta.

Charles Adjei, Hepatitis Alliance of Ghana, Ghana

Using tele-health to expand access to monitoring and support for patients with hepatitis B in Ghana. 

Milan MIshkovikj, European Liver Patients’ Association (ELPA), Macedonia

A national triumph for liver health: Transforming North Macedonia’s hepatitis landscape. 

Dr. Huma Qureshi, Integral Global, Pakistan

Comparison of hepatitis C RNA results using plasma separation card with gold standard veni-puncture. 

Patricia Vélez-Möller, Asociación Guatemalteca del Hígado, Guatemala

Guatemala libre de hepatitis, a health promotion World Hepatitis Day collaborative campaign 

All speakers

Q&A and closing remarks

Chairs

Closing remarks

Chairs

15:15-15:20  Rebecca Johnson, Hepatitis Australia, Australia and Trevor Stratton, CAAN Communities, Alliances & Networks, Canada

Welcome and introductions

Panellists

15:20 – 15:30 Rebecca Johnson, Hepatitis Australia, Australia

Opening remarks 

15:30-15:35  George Garambaka Gurruwiwi, Menzies School of Health Research, Australia

Adapting and translating hepatitis B health education resources with and for First Nations people

15:35-15:40 Sarah Mariyalawuy Bukulatjpi and Tammy-Allyn Fernandes, Jennifer MacLachlan Australia

“Putting the power back into community”: the story of co-designing and delivering a culturally safe education course on Hep B with and for the Aboriginal health workforce. 

15:40-15:45  Gaye Wheeler, Cherokee Nation

15:45-16:15 All speakers

Q&A and discussion 

16:15-16:25

Cultural exchange

16:25-16:30 Chairs

Closing remarks

Chair

Oriel Fernandes, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Rwanda

Panellists

Jessica Hicks, WHA, UK

Grace Singh, Clinton Health Access Initiative, USA

Chukwuemeka Agwuocha, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Nigeria

Dr Garba Danjuma, Women and Children Health Empowerment Foundation (WACHEF), Nigeria

Dr Akudo Ikpeazu, World Health Organization, Republic of Congo

Felicity Jinga, Ministry of Health Nigeria, Nigeria

Rita Atugonza, Ministry of Health, Uganda

Caroline Thomas, Yayasan Peduli Hati








Hepatitis and PWID/harm reduction 

 

11:35 – 11:40  

Chair: WHO – Intro and set the scene.  

 

11:40 – 11:55  

Co-chair:  EMCDDA – Monitoring viral hepatitis elimination among PWID in Europe. 

 

11:55 – 12:00 

ID 29: Ema Pos (not yet registered) 

Title: If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed: lessons from a decentralized Infectious Disease consultation. 

 

12:05 – 12:10  

ID 152: Brian Conway (Registered in person) 

Title: Community Pop-up Clinic: Cascade of Care and HCV Treatment of Vancouver’s inner-city PWID Populations.

 

12:10 – 12:15 

ID 212: Jasmine West (not yet registered) 

Title: From lived experience to lived expertise: a syndemic approach. 

 

12:15 – 12:20 

ID: 299 Mercy Nyakowa (Registered in person) 

Title: HCV and HBV prevalence and associated risk factors among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) in Kenya 

 

12:20 – 12:25 

ID: 133 Nalinikanta Rajkumar (Registered in person) 

Title: Rapid regimen of HBV vaccination: Does it work for high risk groups?  

 

12:25 – 12:30 

Q&A and closing remarks   

tHIS

 

IS 

 

BEN’S

 

 

 

BIG 

 

 

TEST

effective case finding strategies

Supported by Vir Biotechnology, Inc

During this session you will hear from hepatitis Delta expert, Dr. Maria Buti, and a patient who has lived with hepatitis Delta in a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Carey Hwang, Chief Medical Officer (interim) of Vir Biotechnology. This panel will inform perspectives on patient needs, opportunities for enhanced screening, and strengthening linkages to care.

Session Agenda

14:40 – 14:45    

Panel overview and introductions facilitated by Dr Carey Hwang (Vir Biotechnology)

14:45 – 15:05   

Panel discussion: Dr Maria Buti (University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Spain), Milanka Barbosa, Dr Carey Hwang (Chief Medical Officer interim), Vir Biotechnology

15:05 – 15:10    

Final remarks and close