HCV infects and affects a population in the EU who do not access care. The arrival of new curative HCV drugs are a great opportunity for those resourced to attend services and adhere to treatment, but this adherent population is the minority in the EU. If we aim to cure HCV in all risk groups we must take the treatment to the patient and vice-versa. The activities will support the development of national hepatitis strategies, screening and treatment guidelines, taking into account available treatment options. It will help to bridge primary, secondary care, and outreach in the community to facilitate access to and uptake of testing and treatment services particularly among key risk groups including drug users and homeless. It will also assess the potentially considerable economic impact of available treatment and testing strategies on health systems, which are under the responsibility of the EU Member States, with a view to inform decisions on balancing access to medicines with the financial sustainability of health systems. The HepCare project will contain six different components.HepCheck will aim at intensifying screening in the communityHepLink will link primary and secondary care HepEd will educate and up-skill healthcare professionals in the treatment of Hepatitis CHepFriend will provide a peer advocate support programme for patients to help treatment outcomesHepCost will assess the economic impact of the projectThe coordinator will have overall responsibility for disseminating the project impact and liaising with decision makers.The project will take place in 4 member states: Ireland, the UK, Spain and Romania.The HepCare Project will build on work undertaken by the European Commission, the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction with the aim of reducing morbidity and mortality related to hepatitis C and reducing the socioeconomic impact of hepatitis in the EU/EEA.


The “Joint Action on integrating prevention, testing and link to care strategies across HIV, Viral Hepatitis, TB & STIs in Europe” (INTEGRATE) has the overall objective to increase Integrated early diagnosis and linkage to prevention and care of HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STIs in EU Member States by 2020.
A number of tools have been developed to reduce transmission, optimize early diagnosis and linkage to care for one or more of these four diseases. INTEGRATE will map relevant existing tools for cross-linking. A peer-review process will identify which of these tools are complimentary or redundant for other disease(s), and which could be adapted or require further innovation.
HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STIs are cross-borders public health threats of concern to Europe that affect vulnerable populations disproportionately and require personalised interventions. As multiple dimensional approaches are required to reduce the public health burden, the most optimal profile of approaches that provide additive effects (and that are reasonably cost-effective) should be identified and implemented broadly.
INTEGRATE provides a platform to disseminate and exchange best practice among Member States and facilitate discussions on innovations and emerging issues within the four diseases. In this respect, INTEGRATE is a shared European effort that extends beyond the partners and can create important synergies across European stakeholders, projects and initiatives.
INTEGRATE supports the implementation of the Commission Communication on ‘Combating HIV/AIDS in the European Union and neighboring countries’ and the ‘Action Plan on HIV/AIDS in the EU and neighboring countries’ by ensuring better preparedness across the EU and by identifying innovative evidence-based testing and prevention tools to reduce new cases of HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STIs in priority groups.
