Korean Association of Health Promotion and the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Promote Diagnosis and Treatment Linkage for Hepatitis C

Enhancing Public Health through Early Detection and Prompt Treatment of Hepatitis C,
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, The Korea Association of Health Promotion (President Kim In-won, hereinafter KHAP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on January 16th at the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver (KASL) office to activate the diagnosis and follow-up treatment of hepatitis C antibody-positive individuals post-screening.
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, This agreement aims to improve public health by early detection and treatment of hepatitis C and is expected to significantly contribute to the eradication of infectious diseases along with KHAP’s existing public health initiatives, such as the parasitic disease eradication program.
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, Hepatitis C is a major cause that can progress to chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis, and liver cancer, making early detection and appropriate treatment crucial. However, currently, in South Korea, awareness of hepatitis C is low, and the rate of early diagnosis and treatment is not high.
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, KHAP President Kim In-won stated, “As hepatitis C is now included in the national screening program starting this year, its management and treatment are crucial. Through this agreement, we will work with KASL to establish a foundation for the eradication of hepatitis C,” adding, “Just as KHAP has contributed to public health improvement through the parasitic disease eradication program over the past few decades, we will take the lead in hepatitis C eradication through diagnosis-treatment linkage, marking an important leap for public health.”
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, A representative from KASL also expressed, “We are pleased to collaborate with KHAP to activate the hepatitis C diagnosis-treatment linkage. We will provide various academic and practical support for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases.”
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, KHAP and KASL aim to use this agreement as a starting point to enhance diagnostic and treatment accessibility not only for hepatitis C but for liver diseases in general, and to explore continuous cooperative measures for public health improvement.
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