Georgia Seeks WHO Gold-Tier Recognition for Hepatitis B and C Elimination Progress

Georgia is preparing to seek the World Health Organization’s highest-level international recognition for its progress toward eliminating hepatitis B and C, the country’s Ministry of Health said.

Georgia is expected to submit its national hepatitis elimination validation report to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the coming days, outlining the progress achieved in combating the two viral infections.

The announcement followed the second meeting of Georgia’s National Council for the Validation of Viral Hepatitis Elimination, chaired by Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze.

According to the ministry, the report covers two key areas: progress toward the elimination of hepatitis C and the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B.

Georgia is seeking WHO validation at the Gold Tier, the highest level of international recognition under the relevant validation framework.

Data included in the report show that 88.5% of people living with chronic hepatitis C in Georgia have been diagnosed, while 87.1% of those diagnosed have started treatment, exceeding WHO target indicators. The country’s hepatitis C cure rate has reached 99%.

Georgia has also reported significant progress in tackling hepatitis B and has already met WHO regional targets. The prevalence of hepatitis B among children stands at just 0.03%, while 95.5% of newborns receive a hepatitis B vaccine dose at birth. Coverage with the full three-dose vaccination series has reached 90.5%.

Members of the national council unanimously approved the final draft of the validation application to be submitted to WHO.

The ministry described the country’s progress on viral hepatitis as one of Georgia’s major public health achievements.

Since 2015, Georgia has developed a large-scale national hepatitis elimination programme, substantially reduced the burden of hepatitis C, met WHO regional targets for hepatitis B control, and established policies, healthcare services and epidemiological surveillance systems designed to ensure the programme’s long-term sustainability.

The ministry said Georgia now has the key prerequisites to become one of the first countries in the world to receive WHO Gold Tier recognition for progress toward viral hepatitis elimination.

It attributed the achievement to sustained government policy, years of work by Georgian healthcare professionals and effective cooperation with international partners.