Subject: RE: Media Statement
From: Ben Kamarck <[email-masked]>
To: Tamar Gabunia <[email-masked]>
Cc: Graeme Robertson <[email-masked]>, Nino Talakhadze <[email-masked]>, Tatia Tsereteli <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2020 09:38:02 +0000

See attached.

-----Original Message-----
From: Tamar Gabunia <[email-masked]> 
Sent: Friday, January 17, 2020 5:02 PM
To: Ben Kamarck <[email-masked]>
Cc: Graeme Robertson <[email-masked]>; Nino Talakhadze <[email-masked]>; Tatia Tsereteli <[email-masked]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Media Statement

Hi Ben 
Would it be possible for you to send this statement on a template with the Gilead's letterhead? We could then make it available on our web. 
Many thanks!
Tamar  

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Kamarck [mailto:[email-masked]] 
Sent: 17 January, 2020 12:25
To: Tamar Gabunia <[email-masked]>
Cc: Graeme Robertson <[email-masked]>; Tatia Tsereteli <[email-masked]>; Nino Talakhadze <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Media Statement

Hi Tamar,

Sorry! I sent you this morning but it bounced back. It is below. If needed, Graeme or I can be available to discuss with media over phone or VC as needed.

Gilead Sciences Statement on Georgia’s National Hepatitis C Elimination Plan

Georgia is at the forefront of international efforts to eliminate hepatitis C (HCV) and Gilead is proud to have supported the country’s national HCV elimination plan since its launch in 2015. As of the end of 2019, Georgia’s government has successfully treated more than 58,000 Georgians with Gilead medicines.

We understand that a small proportion of HCV medicines donated by Gilead, representing 5% of our total donation to date, reached their expiration date without being used. This is not unusual, as public health programs typically procure more medicines than they project will be needed. In this case, some of the medicines expired because Georgia transitioned to a newer and more tolerable regimen.  We do not believe that the expiration of these medicines has affected the reach or impact of Georgia’s HCV elimination efforts in any way.

Gilead continues to actively support HCV elimination in Georgia, and we are working with the Ministry of Health to ensure that Georgians living with HCV can continue to access the latest advances in HCV treatment.

On 17 Jan 2020, at 3:59 PM, Tamar Gabunia <[email-masked]> wrote:

Dear Ben
May I kindly ask if you had a chance to have the media statement approved. TV company Imedi is preparing a reportage for their main weekly news for Sunday evening. Would be great if you have the statement to share it publically.
Would it be possible for Graeme to have a Skype interview with the reporter today or tomorrow?
Many thanks for your attention to my e-mail.

პატივისცემით,
თამარ გაბუნია
მინისტრის პირველი მოადგილე

Sincerely,
Tamar Gabunia, MD, MPH
First Deputy Minister

-----Original Message-----
From: Ben Kamarck [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: 14 January, 2020 12:57
To: Tamar Gabunia <[email-masked]>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] RE: Feedback on Audit Report-Geo

Great. Will send you approved version tomorrow.

Ben

On 14 Jan 2020, at 4:38 PM, Tamar Gabunia <[email-masked]> wrote:

Dear Ben
Many thanks! This look great. I’ve made small corrections for numbers: 58234 individuals completed treatment by the end of November 2019.
With kind regards

პატივისცემით,
თამარ გაბუნია
მინისტრის პირველი მოადგილე

Sincerely,
Tamar Gabunia, MD, MPH
First Deputy Minister

From: Ben Kamarck [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: 14 January, 2020 07:38
To: Tamar Gabunia <[email-masked]>
Subject: RE: Feedback on Audit Report-Geo

Hi Tamar,

Our PR team is putting together a statement that we can share with the media.  Below is a draft.  Please do not share this yet.  Does the below statement capture what you want?  Can you help me with the yellow numbers?

Thanks!

Gilead Sciences Statement on Georgia’s National Hepatitis C Elimination Plan

Georgia is at the forefront of international efforts to eliminate hepatitis C (HCV) and Gilead is proud to have supported the country’s national HCV elimination plan since its launch in 2015. As of the end of 2019, Georgia’s government has successfully treated more than 58,000 Georgians with Gilead medicines.

We understand that a small proportion of HCV medicines donated by Gilead, representing 5% of our total donation to date, reached their expiration date without being used. This is not unusual, as public health programs typically procure more medicines than they project will be needed. In this case, some of the medicines expired because Georgia transitioned to a newer and more tolerable regimen.  We do not believe that the expiration of these medicines has affected the reach or impact of Georgia’s HCV elimination efforts in any way.

Gilead continues to actively support HCV elimination in Georgia, and we are working with the Ministry of Health to ensure that Georgians living with HCV can continue to access the latest advances in HCV treatment.