Pilot Outreach Program in Remedis-The Promising Step toward HCV Elimination among People Who Inject Drugs.

The global effort to eliminate HCV infection requires new approaches to accessing and testing the affected population in a setting with as low of a threshold as possible. The focus should be on socially marginalized people who inject drugs (PWIDs) and who are not willing or able to visit standard medical services. With this vision, we established an outreach service-a testing point in an ambulance in the park in front of the Main Railway Station of the capital city of Prague-to provide bloodborne disease testing and treatment.

Key Role of Multidisciplinary Collaboration towards Global Elimination of HCV Infection.

The elimination of HCV (hepatitis C virus) infection is, according to WHO (World Health Organization), of international interest. With new diagnostic tools and treatment possibilities, one major challenge for the elimination is to involve infected patients, especially those from socially excluded subpopulations, into HCV infection-treatment programs. The key question is how to help people who inject drugs (PWID) to engage in HCV infection-treatment programs and improve communication between PWID and hepatologists or other medical professionals involved in the treatment of chronic HCV infection.

Experience with viral hepatitis C treatment among people who inject drugs and participate in a methadone substitution treatment program.

Objectives: Long-term monitoring of the mutual effects of chronic viral hepatitis C (VHC) treatment and tailored addiction treatment. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) published an action plan to eliminate viral hepatitis C globally by 2030. People who inject drugs (PWID) are a key population that needs increased attention and care.

Viral hepatitis C pandemic: Challenges and threats to its elimination.

Under the WHO plan, the global elimination of the HCV pandemic is scheduled for 2030. The burden of HCV infection in developed countries is largely borne by people who inject drugs (PWID): new infections and reinfections are related to their risky behaviour. Although safe and sensitive hepatitis C diagnostic tools and directly acting antiviral medication are widely used, major challenges to disease elimination still remain in developed countries, where the WHO plan is in progress.

Obstacles and problems in global elimination of viral hepatitis C.

The global elimination of viral hepatitis C (HCV) infection according to WHO plan 2016 is conditioned by controlling the HCV epidemic among people who inject drug (PWID). This high-risk subpopulation has no interest in prevention, diagnostic or treatment of HCV infection. The problem is not only the lack of interest in changing their behaviour pattern, but also inability of health care professionals to conduct efficient assistance to PWID.