Clinical and Experimental Hepatology
eISSN: 2449-8238
ISSN: 2392-1099
Clinical and Experimental Hepatology
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abstract:
Review paper

Towards elimination of viral hepatitis in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia: insights from the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board (VHPB)

Robert Flisiak
1
,
Frankova Sona
2
,
Sakshi Jindal
3
,
Viktor Aster
4
,
Bela Hunyady
5
,
Mihaly Makara
6
,
Pavol Kristian
7
,
Danica V. Stanekova
8
,
Dorota Zarębska-Michaluk
9
,
Sara Valckx
3
,
Greet Hendrickx
3
,
Pierre Van Damme
3
,
Mojca Maticic
3, 10

  1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
  2. Department of Hepatogastroenterology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic
  3. Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board, Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
  4. Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Charles University and Bulovka University, Prague, Czech Republic
  5. University of Pécs, First Department of Internal Medicine, Pécs, Hungary
  6. Central Hospital of Southern Pest National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases, Outpatient Clinic, Szent László Hospital Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
  7. Department of Infectology and Travel Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, P.J. Šafárik University, and L. Pasteur University Hospital, Košice, Slovakia
  8. St. Elizabeth University of Health & Social Work, Bratislava, Slovakia
  9. Department of Infectious Diseases and Allergology, Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland
  10. University Medical Centre Ljubljana, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Clin Exp HEPATOL 2026; 12, 1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/ceh.2026.158833
Online publish date: 2026/01/28
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The Visegrad Group – the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia – face shared challenges in preventing and controlling viral hepatitis. A regional meeting convened by the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Board evaluated health systems, epidemiology, and national policies, revealing accomplishments and needs for prevention, screening, diagnosis, and linkage to care of viral hepatitis. Universal hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination exists, yet vaccine hesitancy and incomplete coverage threaten progress, while surveillance and registries remain fragmented. Access to hepatitis C (HCV) treatment has improved recently, but remains centralized, with limited engagement of marginalized populations. Elimination of HCV by 2030 is unlikely due to insufficient screening, COVID-19-related healthcare disruptions, and weak political commitment, whereas HBV control depends on maintaining high vaccination coverage and robust monitoring. Participants called for harmonized national guidelines, strengthened regional collaboration, and sustainable action plans backed up by political commitment. Urgent, coordinated efforts are needed to achieve the WHO 2030 elimination goals.
keywords:

viral hepatitis, EU/EEA, political will, WHO 2030 elimination goals, public health
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