AIM OF THE STUDY: To collect and analyse data obtained from HCV opinion leaders/experts from central European countries, on factors which can affect the WHO target of HCV elimination by 2030. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were collected from opinion leaders/experts involved in management of HCV infections in Central European countries which participated in 9th Conference of the Central European Hepatologic Collaboration (Warsaw, 10-11 October 2019). A dedicated questionnaire collected current information related to HCV elimination in Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia. RESULTS: The HCV prevalence rate in particular countries varied from 0.2% to 1.7%. In most central European countries all the HCV infected population is eligible for reimbursement of treatment. However, in some countries there are still some limitations related to the stage of the disease and people who inject drugs. All countries have access to at least one pangenotypic regimen. The most common barrier to HCV elimination in all countries is insufficient political will to establish priority for HCV. None of the reporting countries has established a national screening programme. CONCLUSIONS: Access to therapy for HCV is similar and the majority of patients in Central Europe can be treated according to the current guidelines. Unfortunately there are still some limitations and a lack of political will to implement national screening programmes. According to collected data HCV elimination will not be possible in the region by 2030.

Central Hospital of Southern Pest National Institute of Hematology and Infectious Diseases Budapest Hungary

Department for Viral Hepatitis University Hospital of Infectious Diseases University of Zagreb School of Medicine Zagreb Croatia

Department of Gastroenterology Hepatology and Clinical Nutrition University Hospital Dubrava University of Zagreb School of Medicine Croatia

Department of Gastroenterology HPB Surgery and Transplantology Military Medical Academy Sofia Bulgaria

Department of Gastroenterology Somogy County Kaposi Mór Teaching Hospital Kaposvár and University of Pécs Clinical Center 1st Department of Medicine Hungary

Department of Hepatogastroenterology Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine Prague Czech Republic

Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology Medical University of Białystok Poland

Department of Infectious Diseases Jan Kochanowski University Kielce Poland

Department of Internal Medicine Louis Pasteur University Hospital and Pavol Jozej Šafárik University Faculty of Medicine Kosice Slovakia

Institute for Digestive Research and Department of Gastroenterology Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Lithuania

Latvian Center of Infectious Diseases Riga East University Hospital Hepatology Department University of Latvia Faculty of Medicine Latvia

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HCV Elimination in Central Europe with Particular Emphasis on Microelimination in Prisons