HCV tests available from July for free at POZ

Until now, free anti-HCV test in Poland could only be ordered by an infectious disease doctor. As a result, the vast majority of people living with hepatitis C were unaware of their status and were not receiving treatment. Yet HCV is responsible in our latitude for 60% of life-threatening hepatocellular carcinomas.

Experts estimate that slightly over 100,000 people live with HCV in Poland. The drug program of the Minister of Health provides all diagnosed patients with this virus free access to the most modern therapies, which allow for a quick recovery of almost 100% of patients. The only problem was finding those who were infected, because HCV has been asymptomatic for years. Thanks to placing HCV tests in the baskets of primary care physicians, Poland's chances of implementing the World Health Organization's strategy of eliminating HCV by 2030 have increased.

The Polish Group of HCV Experts and patient organizations associated in the Hepatology Coalition, led by Barbara Pepke, president of the Star of Hope Foundation, have been striving for many years to provide this simple, inexpensive study at the level of a primary care physician.

“We have had many stories of people diagnosed with HCV at a very late stage of the disease. It happened that it was too late for any help. I believe that there will be much less such situations now. It is difficult for me to express the relief that everyone who has been calling for this change for over a dozen years felt thanks to the availability of HCV tests to GPs, "said Barbara Pepke.

"Creating the possibility of performing anti-HCV tests in primary health care gives us a tool to effectively fight infections with this virus, and thus to prevent liver cancer and cirrhosis. How it will be used will depend on GPs, and more specifically on how much they know how much they can do by using this simple and cheap test en masse "- said professor Robert Flisiak, president of the Polish Society of Epidemiologists and Doctors of Infectious Diseases. .

"The role of infectious disease physicians is now to reach colleagues in primary health care with a message about the high effectiveness of available treatment for HCV infected, if they are diagnosed. In the current situation in Poland, practically every patient reporting to primary health care should be ordered anti-HCV test. There is no point in looking for high-risk groups, because we are all in it "- added professor Jerzy Jaroszewicz, president of the Polish Society of Hepatology.

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