New patient group in Turkey

A new Turkish liver patient group was set up in Istanbul on 14th November 2008, under the name of Türk Karaciðer Hastalarý Yardýmlaþma Grubu Baþkaný. Mr. Nevzat Gökmen is the head of the new group. MD Muzaffer Gürakar of the Turkish Liver Foundation initiated the founding process and will support the group with scientific knowledge. The steering committee of ELPA attended the foundation ceremony. Read the full article here

Hepatitis B Brochures for Download

ELPA provides hepatitis B brochures in 14 European languages as PDF files you can download. You can find the brochures here

World Hepatitis Day 2008 – It’s Time to Act!

ELPA is proud to support World Hepatitis Day – taking place on Monday 19 May 2008. Together with over 200 patient groups from around the world we are pledging our support to the first truly global awareness event for chronic viral hepatitis B and C. Approximately 500 million people have either hepatitis B or C and the majority of those infected do not know. 1.5 million people die every year from either hepatitis B or C. read article »

MEP and patient group ask Presidency to advance Hepatitis Screening to prevent liver cancer in Europe

Brussels, 22 January: During the exchange of views with the Slovenian Health Minister Mrs. Zofija Mazej Kukovic in the European Parliament’s Public Health Committee, Dr. Thomas Ulmer MEP (German, EPP) calls on the Council Presidency to promote targeted Hepatitis Screening across the EU as part of their cancer prevention programme... read article »

Outcome of the activities held by ELPA members

Controlling hepatitis C represents a major challenge: it is an infectious disease affecting 170 million people world-wide. Raising awareness amongst governments and the public around the world has to be an urgent priority in order to tackle the spread of this chronic condition.. read article »

Recommendations of the Hepatitis B expert group

Published during Germany’s EU Presidency, the ECDC’s annual epidemiological report revealed that the number of hepatitis B cases in Europe has been decreasing overall throughout Europe during the last decade. However, this trend cannot be observed in all countries and risk groups. Consequently, further efforts are needed to stem this infectious disease wherever it has a major potential to spread. The Expert Group’s recommendations provide a good basis for the further development of health policy within the national responsibility of the individual Member States. Chair:Dr. Thomas Ulmer MEP, European Parliament read article »

MEDIA RELEASE
Could You Have Hepatitis? New Report Shows That the Majority of Europeans with Hepatitis C Remain Undiagnosed.

European Liver Patients Association urges people at risk to get tested!
Brussels, Belgium, 1 October 2007 (Embargo – 00.01 CET) A report released today by the Central and Eastern European Harm Reduction Network (CEEHRN) highlights the significant inconsistencies that exist in hepatitis C (HCV) diagnosis and treatment across Europe and beyond. In recognition of World Hepatitis Awareness Day, patient groups around the globe are united in their call for action.
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World Hepatitis Awareness Day, Activities for Oct 1st

Controlling hepatitis C represents a major challenge: it is an infectious disease affecting 170 million people world-wide. Raising awareness amongst governments and the public around the world has to be an urgent priority in order to tackle the spread of this chronic condition.. read article »

Hepatitis patient’s group hails Roddick’s contribution to EU awareness-raising campaign

Brussels, 11 September 2007 - The European Liver Patients' Association (ELPA) has expressed its sadness at the sudden death of Dame Anita Roddick, and its gratitude for her active support of organisations campaigning for better research into liver disease and care for patients suffering from liver problems.

The group praised her work with their UK member association, the Hepatitis C Trust. She recently had a massive impact on ELPA’s EU campaign to raise awareness of hepatitis C as a ‘silent killer’. She joined the campaign following her discovery that she had carried Hepatitis C for nearly 20 years, having contracted it from a blood transfusion, and subsequently suffered from cirrhosis of the liver.
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Hepatitis B & C screening results: Bulgaria

Unexpected high number of HCV cases in Sofia and Varna
During the period May - June 2007, the Bulgarian National Hepatitis Association, HEPASIST, organized a screening campaign which provided free testing for both hepatitis B and C amongst two different groups (the general public and medical staff). The testing took place in Sofia and Varna, Bulgaria’s second biggest city.
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ELPA SURVEY

ELPA is launching a new survey about HCV/HBV which looks at what it is like to be a patient (experiences with GPs, with misdiagnosis, with waiting for treatment, etc).
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Prevention, Access to Treatment and Position of Hepatitis Patients in the ELPA Members' Countries

Split, Croatia, 28. 06. - 30 06. 2007.
OUTCOME OF INTERNATIONAL HEPATITIS MEETING
As it was announced in our website, Split saw it’s first 2-day international hepatitis conference successfully take place on the 29th and 30th of June 2007.
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European Parliament demands EU-wide action on Hepatitis C

On 29 March 2007, the European Parliament called for EU-wide action on Hepatitis C by formally adopting the Written Declaration on Hepatitis C with an overwhelming support of 470 Members of the European Parliament – the highest endorsement of a Written Declaration since 1999. It will now be forwarded to the Commission and Council, together with the names of the signatories, who are expected to comment in due course.
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Written declaration on hepatitis C

pursuant to Rule 116 of the Rules of Procedure
by Jolanta Dickute, John Bowis, Stephen Hughes, Frédérique Ries and Thomas Ulmer on hepatitis C
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