Is elimination of HCV in 2030 realistic in Central Europe / Robert Flisiak, Dorota Zarębska-Michaluk, Sona Frankova, Ivica Grgurevic, Bela Hunyady, Peter Jarcuska, Limas Kupčinskas, Michael Makara, Marieta Simonova, Jan Sperl, Ieva Tolmane, Adriana Vince

According to the recent data presented by Central-European HCV experts, the estimated prevalence of HCV is between 0.2% and 1.7% in certain countries in this region. There are no financial limitations to access to treatment in most countries. Patients in these countries have access to at least one pangenotypic regimen. The most common barriers to the elimination of HCV in Central Europe are a lack of established national screening programmes and limited political commitment to the elimination of HCV. Covid-19 has significantly affected the number of patients who have been diagnosed and treated, thus, delaying the potential elimination of HCV. These data suggest that the elimination of HCV elimination projected by WHO before 2030 will not be possible in the Central Europe.