Les médicaments pour l’hépatite C ajoutés à la liste des médicaments essentiels de l’OMS
L'OMS a publié une nouvelle version de la Liste Modèle des Médicaments Essentiels qui comprend de nouvelles options de traitement de l'hépatite C, améliorant ainsi l'accès aux médicaments novateurs qui pourraient avoir un impact significatif sur la santé publique dans le monde. Pour en savoir plus, en anglais, veuillez lire les informations ci-dessous.
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On Friday, the World Health Organization released a new version of the Model List of Essential Medicines to include new treatment options for hepatitis C, among others. This improves access to ground-breaking drugs that manifest clear benefits and could greatly impact public health around the world.
Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general for the WHO, said it is important to ensure that anyone in need of medication is given access to effective drugs as they are released. Placing these drugs on the Essential Medicines List is the first step toward that direction. Institutions and governments are increasingly turning to the WHO's list to come up with their own list of essential medicines as they believe the organization only includes medicines that have been proven to be safe and effective.
Every two years, the Essential Medicines List is audited by a committee comprised of experts from the research, medical, academic and pharmaceutical fields. This year, the committee highlighted the importance of promoting equal access to essential medicines as well as the use of new drugs, a number of which are too expensive.
These include new medicines developed for treating hepatitis C, an infection that affects around 150 million individuals around the world and claims the lives of half a million people every year as chronic infection leads to liver cancer or cirrhosis of the liver. The disease persists globally, although it is most prevalent in several mid- and low-income countries.
Until recently, treating hepatitis C offered minimal benefits and came with adverse side effects. Five new drugs have been introduced to the market that offer improved treatment and reduced side effects. All five, including daclatasvir and sofosbuvir, have been included in the Essential Medicines List.
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