Telehealth and hepatitis C treatment for indigenous communities in the United States

To the editor: In the United States (US), an estimated 2.4 million persons have chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The number of deaths from HCV-related mortality is greater than that of HIV and tuberculosis combined. Treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), usually 1-3 pills a day for 8 or 12 weeks, can cure over 95% of patients. Successful treatment of HCV has been shown to greatly reduce liver-related as well as all-cause mortality. American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people have over twice the national rate of HCV-related mortality. The largest health care provider for AI/AN communities is the Indian Health System, a national network of federal (Indian Health Service), tribal, and urban health facilities, comprised mostly of rural primary care clinics. As part of the Indian Health System response to HCV, health facilities have access to tele-mentoring support such as the ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) model, which has demonstrated excellent outcomes in treating HCV. The program connects rural clinicians (‘spokes’) to a specialist team (‘hub’). These participants meet regularly via low-bandwidth video conference technology. The format of case-based learning, supported by short didactic presentations, aims to scale up clinical capacity across a health network. Patient presentations entail a brief de-identified standardized form with a patient’s clinical history to assess liver disease severity and determine optimal HCV treatment. [...]

COVID-19 pandemic in Panama: lessons of the unique risks and research opportunities for Latin America / La pandemia de COVID-19 en Panamá: lecciones basadas en los riesgos y las oportunidades de investigación singulares en América Latina

ABSTRACT The Republic of Panama has the second most unequally distributed wealth in Central America, has recently entered the list of countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and has one of the largest testing rate per inhabitant in the region and consequently the highest incidence rate of COVID-19, making it an ideal location to discuss potential scenarios for assessing epidemic preparedness, and to outline research opportunities in the Region of the Americas. We address two timely important questions: What are the unique risks of COVID-19 in Panama that could help other countries in the Region be better prepared? And what kind of scientific knowledge can Panama contribute to the regional and global study of COVID-19? This paper provides suggestions about how the research community could support local health authorities plan for different scenarios and decrease public anxiety. It also presents basic scientific opportunities about emerging pandemic pathogens towards promoting global health from the perspective of a middle income country.(AU)

RESUMEN La República de Panamá es el segundo país de Centroamérica con la distribución más desigual de la riqueza, ha resultado afectado recientemente por la pandemia de COVID-19 y tiene una de las mayores tasas de pruebas diagnósticas por habitante de la región y, por consiguiente, la mayor tasa de incidencia de COVID-19. Estos aspectos la convierten en un lugar ideal para examinar posibles escenarios de evaluación de la preparación para la epidemia y para plantear oportunidades de investigación en la Región de las Américas. Se abordan dos preguntas importantes y oportunas: ¿Cuáles son los riesgos singulares de la COVID-19 en Panamá que podrían ayudar a otros países de la Región a estar mejor preparados? y ¿Qué tipo de conocimiento científico puede aportar Panamá al estudio regional y mundial de la COVID-19? En este artículo se presentan sugerencias sobre la forma en que la comunidad de investigadores podría apoyar a las autoridades sanitarias locales a planificar medidas ante diferentes escenarios y disminuir la ansiedad de la población. También se presentan oportunidades científicas básicas sobre patógenos pandémicos emergentes para promover la salud mundial desde la perspectiva de un país de ingresos medios.(AU)