The Foundation for Healthcare (TFH UK), in partnership with Imperial College London and the National Institute for Health and Research (NIHR), proudly hosted an International Hepatitis Elimination Symposium in London. The event united world-leading experts, clinicians, and public health leaders to discuss global strategies for eradicating viral hepatitis, with a spotlight on Egypt’s success and Pakistan’s path forward.
Moderated by Professor Graham Cooke (Imperial College London), the symposium featured distinguished speakers including Professor Graham Foster, Dr Mohamad Hassany, Dr Huma Qureshi, Dr Shevanthi Neyagam, Professor Phillipa Easterbrook (WHO), and Professor Gamal Shiha.
Key Highlights and Insights
- Egypt’s Model for Success: Dr Hassany and Professor Shiha shared how Egypt achieved global recognition for hepatitis elimination through nationwide screening, digital patient registration, and same-day testing and treatment. Their “Model Village” approach—education, testing, and treatment within hours—demonstrates how local-level micro-elimination can drive national success.
Pakistan’s Urgent Challenge: Dr Huma Qureshi underscored that a Pakistani dies every 20 minutes from hepatitis-related complications. Initiatives such as the Lady
Health Workers programme show promise, but gaps remain in infrastructure, supply chains, and same-day treatment access.
The Global Perspective: Professor Phillipa Easterbrook of WHO emphasised that eliminating hepatitis in Pakistan—home to the world’s highest hepatitis burden—would be a milestone toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal of global hepatitis elimination by 2030.
Innovation and Prevention: Speakers also highlighted the value of electronic health systems, decentralised testing, and Hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination, which costs as little as $0.02 per dose and can prevent lifelong liver disease.
Our Shared Mission
The symposium reaffirmed TFH UK’s commitment to driving evidence-based, equitable healthcare solutions and supporting Pakistan’s national hepatitis elimination goals through community-led models, digital health innovation, and advocacy.
As Professor Foster reminded attendees:
“There is no such thing as a difficult-to-treat person — only a difficult-to-reach person.”
