A Partners Forum, organized by the Department of Health, Hepatology Society of the Philippines and the National Institute of Health, brought together key experts and organizations working in viral hepatitis, including the World Health Organization in the Philippines to review the current situation of hepatitis in the country and develop consensus on the way forward to better understand the disease burden and key actions to address this in the Philippines.
The partners forum was opened by Honourable Senator Teofisto Guingona III who emphasized the high burden of hepatitis B in the Philippines and the need for action to address this. Discussions focused on the high burden of adult hepatitis B, and the lack of data on the true extent of hepatitis B related liver disease and liver cancer.
Honourable Undersecretary Dr Vicente Belizario concluded the meeting by expressing the need for moving forward on developing a National Hepatitis Action Plan and understanding the true burden of chronic viral hepatitis in the Philippines.
It is estimated that 10 - 16% of Filipino adults live with chronic hepatitis B infection, and while just under 1% are living with chronic hepatitis C. Liver cancer is the second most common cause of cancer in the Philippines. WHO continues to work together with the Department of Health, Philippines, the National Institutes of Health, Philippines and other partners to understand and address the high burden of viral hepatitis in the Philippines.