Key Role of Multidisciplinary Collaboration towards Global Elimination of HCV Infection

Laura Krekulova, Zbynek Oktabec and Lee W. Riley
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Laura Krekulova: 4th Department of Internal Medicine, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Kateřinská 32, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic
Zbynek Oktabec: Department of Addictology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Kateřinská 32, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic
Lee W. Riley: Division of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: The elimination of HCV (hepatitis C virus) infection is, according to WHO (World Health Organization), of international interest. With new diagnostic tools and treatment possibilities, one major challenge for the elimination is to involve infected patients, especially those from socially excluded subpopulations, into HCV infection-treatment programs. The key question is how to help people who inject drugs (PWID) to engage in HCV infection-treatment programs and improve communication between PWID and hepatologists or other medical professionals involved in the treatment of chronic HCV infection. Furthermore, the medical professionals have to accept the changing spectrum of patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Without close interdisciplinary cooperation, it would be extremely difficult to achieve the WHO goal of global viral hepatitis C elimination. Here, we try to encourage our colleagues as well as addictologists and social workers to play their crucial part in the viral hepatitis C eradication process. It is extremely important for the healthcare providers to be able to communicate with addicted clients, inform PWID about the latest developments in the diagnosis and HCV infection treatment, and get them motivated to engage with specialized treatment programs.

Keywords: hepatitis C virus; HCV; HCV infection; viral hepatitis C; people who inject drugs; PWID; global HCV elimination plan; WHO (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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