World Hepatitis Day
Sunday, July 28, 2019
July 28th is World Hepatitis Day. The theme this year is “Finding the Missing Millions,” reflecting the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate that 1 in 10 people with chronic viral hepatitis (B or C) are not aware of their infection. The death toll from viral hepatitis outpaces HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB. Employers can improve the health and wellbeing of their workforce by implementing programs to address stigma, diagnosis and treatment.
Why focus on Hepaitis? Look at the numbers:
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Every 40 seconds someone dies from complications of hepatitis B |
Over 250 million people worldwide have hepatitis B. Over 6% of adult population in WHO Western Pacific and WHO African regions. |
In the US an estimated 3.5 million people live with chronic hepatitis C. |
Hepatitis B is preventable. Vaccines are 95% effective. |
WHO goals include reducing deaths from viral hepatitis infection by 2030 by increasing diagnosis, care, treatment and vaccinations. |
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Left untreated over time, hepatitis C can lead to serious liver damage and failure. Newly approved drugs offering high cure rates (ranging from 90%-100% depending on the therapy) and significantly shortened treatment time (as short as 12 weeks versus up to 48 weeks for older treatments), have transformed the management of hepatitis C, reducing the disease’s morbidity and mortality rates. However, many patients are unable to access these drugs due to cost.
Many people with chronic hepatitis B became infected at birth or during early childhood. If left undiagnosed and unmonitored, chronic hepatitis B can cause serious complications, including liver cancer and liver failure. Generic tenofovir (brand name Viread), one of the first-line antiviral treatments for hepatitis B, has undergone a 90% price reduction worldwide due to global patent expiration.
What can employers do?
In some countries, employees face stigma and discrimination in the workplace due to misconceptions about transmission. Employers can play an important role in reshaping attitudes and help their global workforce access the care they need to prevent costly complications. Consider:
- Raising awareness with your workforce on prevention and transmission.
- Include World Hepatitis Day as part of your company’s well-being communications.
- Review coverage design in your local plans and close gaps where they exist.
- Join the leading companies that have signed onto the JoinJade Employer Collaborative. Through their actions they have touched over 500,000 employees across China and the Bay Area of the United States. Those who participate in the Collaborative receive direct support from our partner, Asian Liver Center at Stanford University in China and the USA.
Additional Business Group Resources
- The Shifting Landscape of Hepatitis C Drug Marketplace: Generics on the Horizon
- New Entrants Create Price Competition & Drive New Formulary Solutions in Hepatitis C Market
- Global Minimum Core Benefits - Business Case and Framework
- Hepatitis B and Moms-to-Be
- Partnering for Employee Health: Addressing Hepatitis B (HBV) in the Workplace – A Toolkit for Employers
- The Business Response to Hepatitis B: An Action Guide for Managers
Other Resources
- Health Affairs publication on impact of achieving Hepatitis B diagnosis & treatment targets
- A recent WHO progress report reviews the impact of hepatitis in Africa
- Lancet article on Transforming Treatment for hepatitis C
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