Subject: Response to the Embassy
From: Irinka Tskhomelidze <[email-masked]>
To: "Bolkvadze, Tamar (CDC/CGH/DGHP)" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, Lia Gvinjilia <[email-masked]>, Tatia Kuchuloria <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2020 10:59:32 +0000

Dear Tamar,

In response to the question on
a problem with the ordering system/ procedures, we’ve discussed with Ministry
of health and they confirmed that to achieve its elimination goal, the country
of Georgia had the targets: a) identifying 90% of HCV-infected persons; b)
treating 95% of people with chronic HCV infection, and c) curing 95% of persons
treated of their HCV infection.

The National seroprevalence survey
(in 2015) estimated 7.7% of the population were anti-HCV positive and 5.4%
chronically infected (PCR positive), equivalent to approximately 150,000
chronically infected adults.  Reaching
all three elimination targets would require testing over one million Georgians,
diagnosing about 133,000 patients, treating approximately 126,000 patients, and
curing about 120,000 patients. Considering above mentioned Goals and based on expert
opinion it was initially agreed with Gilead that the Ministry was ordering
projected amount of medications.

Also, the Ministry confirmed that later there was the disruption of supply
affecting all of the markets not only in Georgia but Vietnam and Egypt too. And due
to the shortage of “Epclusa” Gilead suggests providing Generic medicines, even though there was a delay due to transportation of
the first stock. Currently, the Ministry has made a third order and there are no
more delays.

Additionally, Gilead made a public statement
supporting the Georgian government and the program in the future too.

I've communicated with Eka Adamia and CC-ed her on this email for awareness.

Thank you,
Irina

--

Best regards,

Irina Tskhomelidze,

CDC South Caucasus Office

9 M. Asatiani  str.  0177 Tbilisi,Georgia

Tel: (995 598 708 807)