New hepatitis C guidelines issued by WHO and EASL; MSF warns new drugs are too expensive

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first guidance for the treatment of hepatitis C, a chronic infection that affects an estimated 130 million to 150 million people, on the eve of the 2014 International Liver Congress (ILC) in London.

The publication of the WHO Guidelines for the screening, care and treatment of persons with hepatitis C infection coincides with the availability of more effective and safer oral hepatitis medicines, along with the promise of even more new medicines in the next few years. The WHO will be working with countries to introduce the guidelines as part of their national treatment programs, including assistance to make the new treatments available and consideration of all possible avenues to make them affordable. The WHO will also assess the quality of hepatitis laboratory tests and generic forms of hepatitis medicines.

“Hepatitis C treatment is currently unaffordable to most patients in need. The challenge now is to ensure that everyone who needs these drugs can access them,” said Peter Beyer, senior advisor for the Essential Medicines and Health Products Department at the WHO. “Experience has shown that a multi-pronged strategy is required to improve access to treatment, including creating demand for treatment. The development of WHO guidelines is a key step in this process.”

MSF warns drugs are too expensive