MEPs call for EU action to tackle hepatitis

STRASBOURG – MEPs and health organisations have called for action to encourage better data collection and surveillance of the world’s ‘silent killer’ hepatitis.

“It is important to show people that Hepatitis B and C are preventable, detectable, curable and treatable,” said German EPP deputy Thomas Ulmer during a discussion on Tuesday organised by the European Liver Patients’ Association (ELPA) to mark this year’s World Hepatitis Day.

The debate saw the launch of the “Am I number 12” campaign, a series of 12 political “asks” made on behalf of patient and professional organisations.

One in 12 people are infected with a virus responsible for chronic viral hepatitis, and the vast majority are unaware that they could be in danger from what ELPA and other liver groups are calling a “silent killer”.

It is estimated that around 500 million people in the world are infected with either hepatitis B or C.

The demands or “asks” include the adoption of a council recommendation on targeted screening for viral hepatitis across Europe, support for EU-funded research in this field and a commitment to an EU strategy to protect healthcare workers from blood-borne diseases.

During the lunchtime debate, UK Labour deputy Neena Gill questioned whether more legislation at national level was really necessary.

“The more legislation there is, the more time medical practitioners spend filling in forms and less time getting on with the job of actually curing people,” she said.

“There is a degree of resistance from practitioners to more legislation,” she added.

Marita van der Laar, of the European centre for disease prevention and control (ECDC), also added that although greater awareness was necessary, it was important to encourage effective rather than excessive legislation in member states.

“If member states do not have Hepatitis B and C surveillance, they should get organised so that they do have this,” she said.

“We have to strike a balance between what we need to know and what we would like to know,” she added.

Writing in the latest issue of the Parliament Magazine, Thomas Ulmer and Lithuanian deputy Jolanta Dickute argue that European action is urgently needed on screening for viral hepatitis.

“The European commission and the council should make viral hepatitis a political priority and adopt a council recommendation on hepatitis screening,” say the two MEPs.

“By giving guidance to member states in setting up targeted screening measures for risk groups and raising awareness of the disease, such a recommendation could make a real difference to patients across Europe.”

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