Lessons learned from global hepatitis C elimination programs.

In 2016, World Health Organization (WHO) introduced global targets for the care and management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030. Despite significant improvements in testing and treatment, in 2020 only 23% of all persons infected with HCV globally were diagnosed. We explore examples from global hepatitis C programs in Georgia, Rwanda, and Nigeria that have used decentralized and integrated models to increase access to HCV testing. Georgia established the world's first national hepatitis C elimination program in 2015. In 2022, 2.6 million people (80% of the adults) have been screened for antibodies for HCV infection, and 80,000 persons with HCV virus detected were treated. To achieve these results, Georgia implemented HCV core antigen (HCVcAg) testing, utilization of point-of-care HCV RNA, and simplification of HCV viremia detection by qualitative HCV RNA. Rwanda was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to commit to HCV elimination in 2018, and as of 2022 it has achieved its screening target of 7 million people and initiated approximately 60,000 patients on hepatitis C treatment by rapid decentralization and integration of HCV services. In Nigeria, the integrated near-point-of-care testing approach in Nasarawa state has been effective in expanding access to HCV viremia testing and enabling the possibility of same-day testing and treatment initiation. Examples of decentralization and integration of HCV testing and linkage to care in Georgia, Rwanda and Nigeria could help inform effective strategies to reach 2030 hepatitis C elimination goals in other countries.

Barriers to hepatitis B virus screening of pregnant women in primary healthcare centers in Nigeria: health workers' perspective.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) screening is an important component of antenatal care for pregnant women in Nigeria. However, the screening rates remain low, particularly at primary healthcare centers (PHCs). The objective of this study was to identify the barriers affecting antenatal HBV screening in PHCs in Nigeria from the perspective of health workers. METHODS: We conducted a survey among 30 health workers from 30 PHCs (one per PHC) across three states (Akwa Ibom, Anambra, and Kaduna) in Nigeria. An open-ended questionnaire was used to obtain written responses on the perceived barriers limiting antenatal HBV screening in PHCs and their recommended solutions to the identified barriers. The data were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. RESULTS: The perceived barriers exist at patient, provider and health system levels. They included: lack of test kits, unaffordability of HBV test, shortage of trained personnel, poor awareness among pregnant women, knowledge of HBV among health workers, high cost of antiviral treatment, and unavailability of HBV vaccine. The recommended solutions to the identified barriers were: making test kits and vaccines available and free, creating awareness about HBV, and capacity-building interventions for health workers. CONCLUSIONS: HBV screening of pregnant women attending PHCs in Nigeria appears to be affected by multilevel barriers. As the country continues to work towards eliminating HBV, these highlighted barriers at the patient, provider and health system levels must be addressed through effective and sustainable interventions.

Patient outcomes in public sector hepatitis C treatment programmes: a retrospective cohort analysis across five low- and middle-income countries.

OBJECTIVES: Given limited data on factors associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment discontinuation and failure in low- and middle-income countries, we aimed to describe patient populations treated for HCV in five countries and identify patient groups that may need additional support. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis using routinely collected data. SETTING: Public sector HCV treatment programmes in India (Punjab), Indonesia, Myanmar, Nigeria (Nasarawa) and Vietnam. PARTICIPANTS: 104 957 patients who initiated treatment in 2016-2022 (89% from Punjab). PRIMARY OUTCOMES: Treatment completion and cure. RESULTS: Patient characteristics and factors associated with outcomes varied across countries and facilities. Across all patients, median age was 40 years (IQR: 29-52), 30.6% were female, 7.0% reported a history of injecting drugs, 18.2% were cirrhotic and 4.9% were coinfected with HIV. 79.8% were prescribed sofosbuvir+daclastasvir. Of patients with adequate follow-up, 90.6% (89,551) completed treatment. 77.5% (69,426) of those who completed treatment also completed sustained virological testing at 12 weeks (SVR12), and of those, 92.6% (64 305) were cured. In multivariable-adjusted models, in most countries, significantly lower treatment completion was observed among patients on 24-week regimens (vs 12-week regimens) and those initiated in later years of the programme. In several countries, males, younger patients <20 years and certain groups of cirrhotic patients were less likely to complete treatment or be cured. In Punjab, treatment completion was also lower in those with a family history of HCV and people who inject drugs (PWID); in other countries, outcomes were comparable for PWID. CONCLUSION: High proportions of patients completed treatment and were cured across patient groups and countries. SVR12 follow-up could be strengthened. Males, younger people and those with decompensated cirrhosis on longer regimens may require additional support to complete treatment and achieve cure. Adequate programme financing, minimal user fees and implementation of evidence-based policies will be critical to close gaps.

Initial success from a public health approach to hepatitis C testing, treatment and cure in seven countries: the road to elimination.

With political will, modest financial investment and effective technical assistance, public sector hepatitis C virus (HCV) programmes can be established in low- and middle-income countries as a first step towards elimination. Seven countries, with support from the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and partners, have expanded access to HCV treatment by combining programme simplification with market shaping to reduce commodity prices. CHAI has supported a multipronged approach to HCV programme launch in Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nigeria, Rwanda and Vietnam including pricing negotiations with suppliers, policy development, fast-track registrations of quality-assured generics, financing advocacy and strengthened service delivery. Governments are leading programme implementation, leveraging HIV programme infrastructure/financing and focusing on higher-HCV prevalence populations like people living with HIV, people who inject drugs and prisoners. This manuscript aims to describe programme structure and strategies, highlight current commodity costs and outline testing and treatment volumes across these countries. Across countries, commodity costs have fallen from >US$100 per diagnostic test and US$750-US$900 per 12-week pan-genotypic direct-acting antiviral regimen to as low as US$80 per-cure commodity package, including WHO-prequalified generic drugs (sofosbuvir + daclatasvir). As of December 2019, 5900+ healthcare workers were trained, 2 209 209 patients were screened, and 120 522 patients initiated treatment. The cure (SVR12) rate was >90%, including at lower-tier facilities. Programmes are successfully implementing simplified, decentralised public health approaches. Combined with political will and affordable pricing, these efforts can translate into commitments to achieve global targets. However, to achieve elimination, additional investment in scale-up is required.