title: 12 years of universal access to hepatitis C treatment: Brazil's comprehensive response.
abstract: Hepatitis C is considered one of the most neglected diseases in world. Worldwide about 150 million people are chronically infected by hepatitis C virus (HCV), and 60% to 70% of them will develop severe liver disease. This article describes Brazil's response to hepatitis C, from the first steps in 1993 to a national program in 2002. We reviewed the available literature, most of it in Brazilian Portuguese, and compiled them in order to share this experience with those seeking some pragmatic solutions. After 12 years, the national program has achieved universal coverage of treatment, resulting in saved lives and resources for the health system. There is abundant evidence that the HCV epidemic deserves attention. The overall consequence of long-term HCV infection is a negative impact on the health care economy. The Brazilian experience can be adapted to many countries in the world, in compliance with the 2010 World Health Organization World Health Assembly Resolution.
authors.affiliation: Seção Centro de Referência em AIDS (SECRAIDS), Santos, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naveira
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Secretariat of Health Surveillance, Brasília, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jarbas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas, Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sereno
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domanico
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, National Department of STD, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis, Brasília, Brazil fabio.mesquita@aids.gov.br.
authors.forename: Fábio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mesquita
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, National Department of STD, HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis, Brasília, Brazil.
authors.forename: Laura Alves
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: de Souza
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019472:Universal Health Insurance / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: Brazil; HCV; hepatitis C; public health; viral hepatitis