my story which was published 2010 in"BrossestreetJournal"Hepatitis c diagnosis and a 48-week treatment course costs approximately 10,000 eoros in Georgia.neither the state nor private insurance companies cover any treatment,leaving patients to choose between living and bankruptcy.
A meeting titled"improving Access to hepatitis C Treatment in Georgia" gathered Georgian and International experts and patient advocates to discuss how to overcome the main barriers to accessibility to treatment and diagnostics.
The World health Organization estimates there are 170 million people infected with hepatitis c virus in the world, which accounts for 3% of the global population.In Georgia this figure is as high as 6.75,according to representative results of a general population study conducted by the AIDS centre and BTEP, the US Department of Health and Human Service's Biotechnology Engagement Programme(2009)
It's even higher among certain risk groups:injecting drug users up to 70%,TB patients-12%, HIV-positive people-almost 50%.
Hepatitis C is an infections disease affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus(HCV)the infection is often asymptomatic.(www.emedicinehealth.com/hepatitis_c/pages3_em.htm) Some people describe the symptoms as being flu-like.The symptoms may last a few weeks or month. nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fatigue pain over the liver (on the right side of the abdomen,just under the rib cage) Jaundice - a condition in which the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow, dark coloured urine (may look like cola or tea) stools become pale in co lour(greysh or clay coloured) prolonged nausea and vomiting repeatedly,you may notice the following symptoms: fatigue or weakness, confusion or difficulty concentrating headache, problems urinating, irritability.
"hepatitis C is more infectious than HIV; there is no preventive vaccine against it. Therefore access to diagnostics and treatment is of particularly high importance around the world and in Georgia" says Infectious diseases specialist Mariam Svanidze.
"The average cost of necessary investigations for selection of treatment regimen and it's management is 1,600gel (670 euros) 'hepatitis C treatment costs through a combination f Interferon and ribavirin amounts 4,500 euro (for a 24-week treatment) or 9,ooo euros (for 48 week treatment course) which is more powerful treatment"says Fati Gabunia head of the Infectious Pathology, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Centre.
"I've had C hepatitis for 10 years; I call it the unheard of disease.Not only medicines,I pay 2,000gel only for the analysis. It's expensive ," says seminar participant Koka Labartqava, a representative from the New vector NGO.
In Georgia, like in the whole world, two PEG- Interferons can cure hepatitis C: Pegasys of Swiss Hoffmann-La Roche and Peginteron of the USA's Schering-Plough. Pegasys is imported by the Custom Stock of Medicines, and Medicine Pegintron, is imported by PSP company. Both companies have certain offers for patients and Ribavirin is provided free of charge. The purchase of these drugs is possible with a Doctor's prescription at certain pharmacies.
The arrival of other drug companies in the market will increase competitiveness. "In Lithuania, there is a state programme helping people with this disease. I 'm really amazed how Georgian citizens pay that much money from their pocket," said seminar participant Raminta stuikyte, a consultant at New York public health programme.
"Selected prisoners receive tretment paid for by the state (Ministry of Justice Budget). On the average 10-18 prisoners have received tratment each year, starting from 2008" says Gabunia, head of the Infectious Pathology, AIDS and Clinical Immunology Centre.
According to information from pharmaceutical companies, in 2009 about 320 persons underwent hepatitis C treatment in Georgia. In the vast Majority of cases patients covered treatment costs themselves. It's impossible to tell how many persons needed tretment in 2009. In the AIDS laboratory alone 548 examinations were conducted in 2009.
"The state and insurance companies can't afford to offer access to HCV treatment given the costs. we want to create a national funded programme to negotiate treatment prices. We are calling on the government to finance this programme. Also in the near feature we plan to meet the health minister,"says keteven Khutsishvili, Open Society-Georgia foundation executive.
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