Full Recording | Thinking Big: Hepatitis B and C Elimination in Asia - APASL 2024

The “Thinking Big: Hepatitis B and C Elimination in Asia” special session convened on Wednesday, March 27th, from 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM JST during the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) in Kyoto, Japan. Professor George Lau, representing the APASL Viral Elimination Task Force, and Dr. John W. Ward, Director of the Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, served as co-conveners of this special session. This special session brought together leading clinicians, health officials, civil society members, and other influential stakeholders to discuss lessons learned, including innovative strategies, for preventing, diagnosing, and treating HBV and HCV across Asia. Participants learned of new resources and opportunities aimed at advancing elimination efforts, including a Hepatitis B Operational Research Roadmap to Simplify Care in LMICs, the latest WHO HBV guidelines, consequences of inaction policy briefs, and National Hepatitis Elimination Profiles. A call to action was presented to strengthen hepatitis elimination efforts in Asia.

Agenda

Introduction & Setting the Stage

(1) Welcome | Dr. John Ward, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, United States and Prof. George Lau, APASL Viral Hepatitis Elimination Task Force, Humanity and Health Medical Group, Hong Kong, China

(2) HBV and HCV Elimination in Asia’s High Burden Countries: Advancing Policy and Operational Research | Dr. John Ward, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, United States

(3) Commitment from APASL on HBV and HCV Elimination | Prof. George Lau, APASL Viral Hepatitis Elimination Task Force, Humanity and Health Medical Group, Hong Kong, China

Section 1: Exploring Hepatitis Elimination Programs

Japan
(1) HBV and HCV Burden of Disease and Evolving Screening and Care Initiatives | Prof. Junko Tanaka, Hiroshima University, Japan

(2) HCV Research Priorities to Guide Policy Development | Prof. Wakita Takaji, Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan

(3)Discussion

China
(1) HCV Elimination and HBV Guidelines for Expanding Access to Care | Prof. Jia Jidong, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital University, China

(2) Discussion

Australia
(1) Australia’s Progress Towards HCV Elimination | Prof. Jacob George, School of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia

(2) Discussion

- Service Delivery and Operational Research Agenda for Advancing Progress towards HBV and HCV Elimination | Dr. Philippa Easterbrook, World Health Organization (HQ)

- Patient Perspectives from the Japan Hepatitis Council on the Importance of HBV and HCV Elimination | Ms. Atsuko Yonezawa, Japan Hepatitis Council, Tokyo Hepatitis Association, Japan
Translation: Dr. Ko Ko, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Japan

Section 2: National Updates/Strategies on Hepatitis Elimination

(1) Pakistan: Achievements and Prospects for Eliminating Viral Hepatitis in Pakistan | Prof. Saeed Hamid, Aga Khan University, Pakistan

(2) The Philippines: Decentralizing Care for Hepatitis B & C: Research Priorities | Prof. Janus Ong, University of Philippines- Manila, Philippines

(3) Vietnam: Evaluating Strategies for a Primary Care Model for HBV and HCV Care: Research Priorities in Viet Nam | Dr. Pham Thanh Thuy, The Partnership for Health Advancement in Vietnam, Vietnam

(4) Q&A

Section 3: Panel Discussion | Moderator: Dr. John Ward, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, United States & Prof. George Lau, APASL Viral Hepatitis Elimination Task Force, Humanity and Health Medical Group, Hong Kong, China

Focus: What are Opportunities to Advance Hepatitis Elimination in Asia?: National Commitment, Community Mobilization, Policy Change Operational Research

Questions:

- What are tangible policy changes to advocate for expanding access to HBV and HCV care in the short-tem?
- What operational research is needed to inform national program development for HBV testing and treatment in the Asia region?
- Are there other barriers to hepatitis elimination beyond financing and political commitment?
- How can policymakers be engaged in hepatitis elimination and evaluation?
- What are opportunities to advance political commitment for HBV and HCV elimination?

Part 1 - HCV elimination

- Prof. Junko Tanaka, Hiroshima University, Japan
- Prof. Wakita Takaji, Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan
- Prof. Jacob George, School of Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia
- Prof. Saeed Hamid, Aga Khan University, Pakistan

Part 2 - HBV elimination

- Dr. Philippa Easterbrook, World Health Organization
- Prof. Jia Jidong, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital University, China
- Prof. Janus Ong, University of Philippines- Manila
- Dr. Pham Thanh Thuy, The Partnership for Health Advancement in Vietnam

Call to Action & Closing Remarks | Dr. John Ward, Coalition for Global Hepatitis Elimination, United States