2024 World Hepatitis Alliance Regional Board Member Elections

Antonio Oñate – Mexico

PAHO regional board member candidate

Founder – Fundación Hepatos Aión, A.C.

Antonio’s biography

Antonio studied chemical engineering. For the past 25 years he has been dedicated to the sale and consulting of specialised equipment in the chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries for manufacturing companies from the United States of America, Canada, Japan and Europe. He has been a member of rotary clubs in Mexico and is currently president of the Rotary Club Rome in Mexico City. His activities have allowed him to travel throughout Mexico and other countries, which has helped him to be in contact with decision makers in the health and industrial sectors. 

Antonio’s personal statement

I was diagnosed in May 2002 with cirrhosis of the liver due to hepatitis C genotype 1A. In 2005, I joined the group of patients known as Amigos del Higado, where I participated in advocacy activities for people with hepatitis C. In 2006, I took pegylated interferon with ribavirin for 48 weeks, achieving sustained viral response. In 2010, I was elected president of Amigos del Higado for 2010-2012, where I actively worked with Mexican NGOs to get the Mexican health authorities to include hepatitis C treatment for people without social security (Seguro popular). 

In 2013, I founded Fundacion Hepatos  Aion, A.C., working on the formation of patient support groups in Mexico and collaborating with NGOs in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. I have been a member of the World Hepatitis Alliance since then. A very important achievement, shared also with Mexican NGOs, is the inclusion by health authorities of the new direct-acting antivirals for all people with hepatitis C in the country’s health system free of charge. My business activities and as a member of Rotary clubs have allowed me to be in contact with decision makers at the national level in the pharmaceutical and general industry, the health sector, political parties and civil society organisations throughout Mexico. 

I have actively participated in activities to prevent liver disease, mainly viral, organising forums, conferences for patients, meetings with health commissions of the chambers of senators and deputies, both federal and state, and in campaigns for the early detection of hepatitis C in hospitals and patients groups throughout the country. I have collaborated with recognised institutions in the health area such as the National Institute of Public Health (INSP), the National transplant Center (Cenatra), as well as with the main medical specialists in hepatology in Mexico and attended many of the hepatology congresses in Mexico and other countries.

Committed to the control, timely diagnosis and elimination of hepatitis C, I continue my activities seeking to work in synergy with NGOs for other diseases that are related to liver damage, such as diabetes and also fatty liver, since they are a factor in the progression of liver damage previously caused by viral hepatitis. I always seek to collaborate with decision makers, both in the pharmaceutical industry and the government, to achieve goals in the shortest time possible. I seek to continue strengthening friendship and joint work with NGOs from other Latin American countries and around the world, since they all have experience that we can share to carry out our work in a more efficient and effective manner.