Memorandum of Cooperation between the Press Service of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the NGO “BCD”

On December 9, 2020, Acting Director of the Press and Information Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine Ihor Kuzin and Executive Director of the non-governmental organization “BCD” (hereinafter “BCD”) Yuriy Voynalovych, representing the community of people with viral hepatitis, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. 

Currently, there are approximately 1.5 million people living with viral hepatitis C and 600,000 with viral hepatitis B in Ukraine.

This is the formalization of a partnership aimed at overcoming the viral hepatitis (hereinafter referred to as VH) epidemic in Ukraine.

As part of the implementation of the National Strategy to Combat HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Viral Hepatitis for the period up to 2030.

We plan to achieve these ambitious goals by expanding access to the most effective methods of diagnosis and modern treatment of VH.

To do this, we need to:

• Reduce the cost of pre-treatment and ongoing testing for chronic hepatitis B, C, and D by securing discounts through private laboratory networks.
• Advocate for the inclusion of these tests in the state-guaranteed free package for every patient with chronic hepatitis.
• Make medical care for patients with chronic hepatitis accessible at the primary care level. 
• This includes both testing and follow-up examinations and treatment in cases that do not require hospitalization. 
• Advocate at the national level for the approval of a list of recommended examinations. This will prevent the ordering of unnecessary, costly tests.
•  Ensure free access to generic medications for the treatment of hepatitis C both through government programs and the pharmacy network.
•  Implement treatment approaches for all patients with HCV regardless of the stage of liver damage, etc. 

The target for 2030 is to provide free treatment to 90% of patients with chronic hepatitis C and 40% of patients with chronic hepatitis B. 

Only by joining forces with the civil society sector, government agencies, and other stakeholders can we overcome the viral hepatitis epidemic in Ukraine.

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