Elimination of Viral Hepatitis in the Balkan countries: Lessons Learnt and the way forward

Meeting objectives:

provide an overview of the current viral hepatitis situation in the countries: surveillance systems, epidemiology, screening, burden, prevention, treatment and the cascade of care
discuss achievements and challenges in the prevention and control of viral hepatitis, the possible implementation of new prevention strategies, control measures and monitoring system in the countries
discuss the development and the implementation of a national hepatitis plans
assess the needs to achieve the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a major public health threat by 2030 as set out in the renewed WHO Global Strategy and WHO Europe Action Plan, building on the UN Sustainable Development Goals' (SDG) commitments
discuss successes, issues and barriers to overcome and the way forward.

Background document (1.446 kB, pdf)

Thursday 27 October 2022

Session 1: Opening and objectives

Chairs: Greet Hendrickx & Milan Mishkovikj

08:30 - 09:00

Welcome and opening of the meeting

Introduction of the participants

Introduction of the VHPB

Objectives of the meeting

Review of the meeting programme

Welcome by Dr. Bekim Sali

Minister of Health

Session 2: The health care system in The Balkan countries
Chairs: Daniel Lavanchy & Angela Dominguez
09:00 - 10:30	Introduction in the health care system and infectious disease service of the different countries (focused on viral hepatitis) (following a VHPB slide template, 10 minutes/country) Albania – Silvia Bino Bosnia-Herzegovina – Vesna Lucic-Samardzija / Azra Husic-Selimovic (pre-recorded) Bulgaria – Ani Kevorkyan Kosovo – Valbon Krasniqi Montenegro – Aleksandra Marjanovic North Macedonia – Marija Dimzova Serbia – Violeta Rakic / Tomislav Preveden Croatia – Adriana Vince / Tatjana Nemeth Blažić Slovenia – Mojca Maticic
10:30 - 10:50	Q&A
10:50-11:10	Coffee Break

Session 3: Current viral hepatitis situation
Chairs: Marko Korenjak & Françoise Roudot-Thoraval
11:10 - 12:50	Current situation: Epidemiological Hepatitis situation, burden of disease; How screening and prevention/vaccination are organised & Cascade of care (following a VHPB slide template, 20 minutes/country) Albania – Elona Kureta Bosnia-Herzegovina – Vesna Lucic-Samardzija / Azra Husic-Selimovic (pre-recorded) Bulgaria – Ani Kevorkyan Kosovo – Teuta Jusufi Montenegro – Alma Cicic
12:50-13:50	Lunch Break
Chairs: Mira Kojouharova & Daniel Shouval
13:50-15:10	Continued - Current situation: Epidemiological Hepatitis situation, burden of disease; How screening and prevention/vaccination are organised & Cascade of care North Macedonia – Marija Dimzova Serbia – Violeta Rakic / Tomislav Preveden Croatia – Adriana Vince / Tatjana Nemeth Blažić Slovenia – Mojca Maticic
15:10-15:40	Overview of Hepatitis surveillance and Epidemiology in Europe: Hepatitis B and C in EU/EEA countries and overview for Balkan countries Erika Duffell, ECDC Marcelo Naveira, WHO
15:40-16:00	Coffee Break

Session 4: Literature session
Chairs: Silvia Bino
16:00 - 16:40	Role of the patient organisations in the Balkan region. Milan Mishkovikj (Hepar Centar Bitola) Marko Korenjak (ELPA)
16:40-17:20	Hepatitis B & C management policies in European and Balkan countries Hakan Leblebicioglu
17:20 - 17:40	Q&A

Friday 28 October 2022

Session 5: Elimination of viral hepatitis in Balkan region – Lessons learnt, best practices and future challenges
Chairs: Mojca Maticic & Thomas Vanwolleghem
8:30-8:50	Welcome by Dr. Ana Daneva Markova Health Advisor of the Prime Minister WHO Global Strategy and the European action plan for viral hepatitis elimination, including WHO/Europe good practices Nicole Seguy - WHO Regional Office for Europe
8:50-9:00	Q&A
9:00-11:15	Presentations of best practices and issues to achieve the elimination goals (15 minutes/country) Albania – Elona Kureta Bosnia-Herzegovina – Vesna Lucic-Samardzija / Azra Husic-Selimovic (pre-recorded) Bulgaria – Ani Kevorkyan Kosovo – Xhevat Jakupi Montenegro – Aleksandra Marjanovic North Macedonia – Todorovska Beti / Kalina Stardelova Serbia – Violeta Rakic / Tomislav Preveden Croatia – Adriana Vince / Tatjana Nemeth Blažić Slovenia – Mojca Maticic
11:15-11:30	*Q&A*
11:30-11:50	Coffee Break

Session 6: Groups discussion - What are the needs to Eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030
Chairs: Tatjana Reic
11:50-13:10	Group 1 - Epidemiological surveillance, screening, monitoring and analysis of the effectiveness of prevention and treatment programs, informing the public (Sandra Dudareva) Group 2 -Prevention of viral hepatitis: improvement of vaccine prevention programs, prevention in high-risk groups, prevention in health care settings (Marcelo Naveira) Group 3 - Treatment of viral hepatitis: recommendations based on epidemiology and disease burden data, increasing access to treatment, coverage of the most affected groups (Senad Handanagic)
13:10-13:30	Presentation outcome of the groups sessions

13:30-14:30

Lunch Break

Session 7: Conclusion of the meeting

Chairs: Marko Korenjak & Silvia Bino

14:30-15:15

Conclusion of the meeting, final discussion & closing of the meeting

Meeting report (387 kB, Pdf) by David FitzSimons.

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