Ahead of World Hepatitis Day, civil society representatives have sent a letter to the World Health Organization (WHO), urging the organization to establish a dedicated working group on hepatitis D and develop separate guidelines for its diagnosis and treatment. The English version of the letter is available in the attachment.
The letter was initiated by ITPC EECA and ECAT and signed by representatives of civil society organizations from EECA countries, as well as international organizations, including Treatment Action Group (TAG), GNP+, ITPC Global, and others.
According to WHO’s 2024 report, the hepatitis D virus (HDV) affects approximately 5% of people worldwide living with chronic hepatitis B, and HDV co-infection accounts for around 20% of liver disease and liver cancer casesamong people with hepatitis B.
In recent years, particularly amid the humanitarian crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and armed conflicts, there has been a significant increase in the number of people seeking support from patient organizations and NGOs regarding hepatitis D. Patients report that they are unable to receive adequate consultation and medical assistance related to hepatitis D, especially regarding diagnosis and treatment. Many individuals seek help at late stages of liver damage, which complicates treatment and worsens health outcomes. At the same time, epidemiological data on hepatitis D remain scarce in both the EECA region and globally, and awareness of the issue among healthcare professionals and policymakers remains low.
During informal discussions on the importance of a dedicated response to hepatitis D, WHO’s key role as the leading organization responsible for developing evidence-based guidelines was repeatedly emphasized.
Civil society representatives strongly believe that the development of new WHO guidelines will help improve hepatitis D detection and treatment, raise awareness among healthcare professionals, and ultimately lead to better health outcomes for patients.
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