More than 20,000 persons with hepatitis and liver cirrhosis received compensated drugs to the value of almost 11 million lei in 2022. The persons with hepatitis and cirrhosis benefit from such compensated medicines as ursodeoxycholic acid, propranolol and furosemide. The data were provided by the National Health Insurance Company (CNAM) in connection with World Hepatitis Day whose theme in 2023 is “One life, one liver”, IPN reports.

Within specialized outpatient medical care, mandatory health insurance funds are used to cover consultations with infectious disease doctors, with the prescription, for diagnostic purposes, of laboratory and instrumental examinations and of treatment.

The CNAM finances also high-performance examinations for viral hepatitis and chronic hepatitis B, C, D for the purpose of initiating and performing antiviral treatment. For this year, contracts to the value of over 10 million lei were signed with nine high-performance medical service providers. To get such services, the person needs to go to one of the given health facilities with a referral from the infectious disease doctor.

Over 260,000 lei was allocated this year from the CNAM prophylactic measures fund for purchasing 8,000 vaccine doses for preventing viral hepatitis B in the case of persons form high risk groups. In hospitals, the CNAM covers the costs for treated cases.

In connection with World Hepatitis Day, the CNAM calls on the population to be solidarity with those affected by hepatitis, to support them and to ensure access to appropriate treatment for all those who have such health problems.

Hepatitis is a major public health issue. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is caused by a variety of infectious viruses and noninfectious agents leading to a range of health problems, some of which can be fatal. There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. While they all cause liver disease, they differ in important ways including modes of transmission, severity of the illness, geographical distribution and prevention methods. Some types of hepatitis are preventable through vaccination. Hepatitis C can be now cured. In Moldova, the prevention, diagnosing and treatment of hepatitis are covered with mandatory health insurance funds.