TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Managing Director of Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) Indonesia George Stylianou explained the importance of early detection of disease Hepatitis important for optimal treatment.
“Commemorate World Hepatitis Day which falls on Thursday, July 28, MSD Indonesia hopes that the public is aware of the importance of proper understanding of Hepatitis, early detection, and optimal access to treatment,” said George in a press statement on Thursday, July 28, 2022.
According to him, economic and social limitations can create inequality and challenges for the community to get optimal treatment with high quality. However, access to optimal treatment and early detection will have a major role in reducing the number of sufferers Hepatitis C and the risk of transmission.
Coinciding with World Hepatitis Day, Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) Indonesia emphasized the importance of awareness of hepatitis problems in Indonesia and access to treatment for the community.
With this year’s national theme “Closing Access to Hepatitis Treatment because Hepatitis Can’t Wait”, it is hoped that there will be an increase in prevention efforts through the prevention and control of hepatitis in Indonesia.
Hepatitis is an infectious disease in the form of liver inflammation caused by a virus and is one of the health problems faced by people in the world, including Indonesia.
Hepatitis B and C viruses cause around 1.5 million people in the world to die every year. This situation is illustrated by data from the 2018 Basic Health Research (Riskesdas) where the prevalence of people with hepatitis in Indonesia is 0.4 percent.
Hepatitis C is one of the priority types of hepatitis and is currently in the spotlight in Indonesia because of the high risk of transmission. Patients with chronic kidney failure who undergo hemodialysis have a high risk of being infected with the Hepatitis C virus, which is 15.16 percent.
Ironically, the risk of being infected with the Hepatitis C virus will increase the longer the patient undergoes hemodialysis. The prevalence of Hepatitis C in hemodialysis patients is still high because these patients have a tendency to transmit the Hepatitis C virus to other hemodialysis patients. It is also triggered because hemodialysis patients with Hepatitis C rarely get optimal treatment.
Through the momentum of World Hepatitis Day which is commemorated every July 28, it is hoped that all parties, both the government, the private sector, and the community will collaborate to create a hepatitis-free generation. “At MSD, we work by prioritizing innovation towards optimal treatment for patients and continue to ensure that this treatment is accessible to patients in need. We really appreciate the steps taken by the Government of Indonesia to realize the Government of Indonesia’s commitment to eliminating Hepatitis C by 2030.”
In Indonesia, currently available anti-Hepatitis C Virus therapy with Direct Acting Antivirus (DAA) class which has been clinically proven to achieve a healing response of more than 95 percent.
The combination of Elbasvir and Grazoprevir from the DAA Group is recommended for adult patients with chronic hepatitis C infection (with or without cirrhosis) which has been proven to be effective and safe. In addition, DAA can be administered to a population of patients with chronic renal failure (hemodialysis) as well as geriatric patients. The existence of this treatment innovation increases the level of treatment for hepatitis C patients to be more optimal.
In addition, efforts to prevent hepatitis C infection for hemodialysis patients are also important, namely by undergoing standard infection control procedures including hygienic behavior that has been proven to be effective in preventing transmission through contaminated blood and fluids between patients. Make disciplined efforts in maintaining hand hygiene, injection safety, and environmental cleaning.
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