World Health Organization and Treatment

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been one of the most influential activists in campaigning for human rights issues surrounding Hepatitis C. However, since the two newest Hep C drugs have been released there has been a wide objection and hostility aimed towards WHO for allowing the cost of the drugs to be so high ($1,000 a pill). The cost of the two medications are greatly reduced in other countries but still remain unaffordable to most of the world.

In the article listed below, the reporter states WHO was unaware of the cost when they approved the most recent guidelines in treating Hepatitis C. The new guidelines have almost impossible expectations since there is no official governing authority tracking the spread and infection of Hep C clients.This is true for the United States. Hepatitis C should technically be notified by the physician or agency who finds a positive test result according to the CDC Summary of Notifiable Diseases. However, as sociologists and epidemiologists are discovering, the spread of Hep C is growing exponentially faster than previously known.

Sources all over the world and in US have compared the Hepatitis C "epidemic" to that of HIV, however HIV clients must take antiretroviral medication for the remainder of their life whereas Hep C positive clients do not.

I found the following article interesting and informative and thought I'd share it with my fellow Hep Hoppers (cute right!?) :) Let me know what you think and as always please share with friends and family!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/04/09/300959958/who-recommends-high-priced-drugs-for-millions-with-hepatitis-c

REMINDER: Our next group meeting will be May 1 at 5:30! Location is TBA! Call or email with questions- Jillian Shade jcooper@argevansville.org or 812-421-0059