Andrew Donlon
Executive Business Unit Director Liver Disease, Gilead Sciences
Collaboration, new treatments and reaching out to marginalised communities are helping England achieve its goal of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030.
England has committed to eliminating hepatitis C before 2030, with an ambition of 2025 – a bold vision that could have positive ramifications for the whole of society.
NHS England, patient charities, the third sector and the pharmaceutical industry have come together to find and treat everyone affected by the virus a full five years before the World Health Organization’s global target of 2030.
For many, treating the virus can be the first time society has put their arms around them and said it cares about their health.
Despite the significant numbers of people who are being – and who have been – successfully treated for hepatitis C, there are still thousands of patients who are not able to access care, and many who are unaware that they have hepatitis C, said Andrew Donlon, executive Director of the UK/I liver disease business unit at Gilead Sciences.
“Many of those with hepatitis C are part of a highly marginalised and stigmatised group in society. Gilead is committed to helping this underserved population..”
The impact of clearing the virus, which can lead to liver disease and liver cancer, can be huge.
Andrew explained: “For many, treating the virus can be the first time society has put their arms around them and said it cares about their health.
Success is possible
“With the curative treatments for hepatitis C, elimination has become a reality, by working together we can ensure that no one affected by hepatitis C in England is left behind.
“We have already achieved ‘micro-elimination’ in two drug treatment centres and pretty soon we’ll be able to say the same for several prisons. That’s where it starts.
“Here, we have a unique opportunity to make England one of the first major countries in the world to eliminate hepatitis C,” he said.
Gilead Sciences Ltd have contributed to and funded this content. UK-HCV-2020-04-0018 Date of prep May 2020
