Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Over 1 Million in Low and Middle Income Countries Treated with New Cure for Hepatitis C: UN

Over 1 Million in Low and Middle Income Countries Treated with New Cure for Hepatitis C: UN

UNITED NATIONS - Over one million people in low-and middle-income countries have been treated with a revolutionary new cure for hepatitis C since its introduction two years ago, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here Thursday, quoting a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The report, "Global Report on Access to Hepatitis C Treatment: Focus on Overcoming Barriers," was issued by the UN health agency earlier on Thursday. It said that the new medicines have a cure rate of more than 95 percent, fewer side effects than previously available therapies, and can completely cure the disease within three months.
When Direct Acting Antivirals (DAAs) were first approved for hepatitis C treatment in 2013, there were widespread fears that their high price -- some 85,000 U.S. dollars -- would put them out of reach for the more than 80 million people with chronic hepatitis C infections worldwide, Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.
"But thanks to a series of access strategies including competition from generic medicines through licensing agreements, local production and price negotiations, a range of low- and middle-income countries, are beginning to succeed in getting drugs to people who need them," he said. (Xinhua)