ACADEMIA

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND 

Early March of 2020 saw the appearance of the new coronavirus in Hungary. At that time, initiatives were being made to practice surveillance, curfew, lockdown, epidemiological research, close contact management, and diagnostic testing. Hungary's plan was to contain the outbreak in order to reduce the number of deaths and prevent the healthcare system from being overburdened. Hungary took prompt and severe action as soon as community transmission was verified in Italy and the WHO declared a worldwide pandemic.

METHODS 

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 25th to June 08th 2021 using a self-completed online questionnaire. The survey data was collected by a professional survey company through their online panel database. The target population was 2,000 adults from the general population of Hungary. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, correlation analysis and linear regression were employed to test the sample’s willingness to pay to avoid 3 theoretical COVID-19 lockdown scenarios WTPA, WTPB and WTPC.

RESULTS 

The final sample consisted of 2000 participants (N=2000). About 62.2% of the respondents were female and 37.8% were male. Respondents aged 18-24 and 65 and older were willing to pay significantly more to avoid all three scenarios compared to people of other age categories. Socioeconomic status, including their residential area, level of education and employment status are connected with respondents’ willingness to pay. No statistically significant results were observed about the quarantine status but likelihood to be willing to pay more increased across all three states with the statistical significance for people who were vaccinated against COVID-19.

CONCLUSION 

Differences between willingness to pay to mitigate theoretical lockdown situations can be observed for respondents of different age, socioeconomic status, quarantine and vaccination statuses. Though, statistically significant results were observed only for socioeconomic and vaccination statuses.

KEYWORDS: COVID-19, WTP, Willingness to Pay, Lockdown, Hungary.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND 

Based on the data from the HCV seroprevalence national survey of 2015, the country of Georgia embarked on the world’s first HCV elimination program to achieve targets of the WHO 2030 strategy. Georgia set its own goals for 2020, to reduce HCV prevalence by 90% by a) identifying 90% of adults infected with hepatitis C, b) treating 95% of people with chronic HCV infection and, c) curing 95% of persons treated for their HCV infection. 

METHODS 

Through a literature search, several scientific papers were reviewed, including the 2016 National HCV Elimination Strategy of Georgia, 3-year progress, and interim evaluation of the program. The objectives and challenges of the program were assessed and the progress of the country to the WHO 2030 targets was compared. SWOT analysis was done to assess Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of the Georgian National HCV Elimination Program.

FINDINGS 

Georgia did not meet its own goals for HCV Elimination strategy 2020. The program needs an extension from 2020 to 2026 to meet its targets. By August 2019 only approximately 50% of the people with chronic HCV infection were diagnosed, falling behind the 90% goal of 2020. Georgia lags on several milestones of the WHO 2030 strategy. Screening activities have increased with half of the adult population screened for HCV virus. Two mobile laboratories have been added to the Georgian Harm Reduction Network, but the outreach to marginalized groups still needs improvement. Possession of illicit drugs is still illegal in Georgia, challenging the workflow of NSP outreach sites. Stigma attached to the HCV diagnosis remains a major reason for hesitancy to screen among high-risk target groups. Linking anti-HCV positive individuals with the treatment facilities is an obstacle due to insufficient online data registry. Even though the numbers of blood donations have increased, centralization of blood banks is necessary to reduce remunerated blood donations and improve quality control.

CONCLUSION 

Georgia meeting its targets in 2026 will still be a significant step forward towards the WHO 2030 goals. The challenges faced by Georgia’s National Hepatitis C Virus Elimination program can be used by other countries as a model and a guide for their respective goals of HCV elimination.

KEYWORDS: HCV, Hepatitis, Georgia, National Elimination Program, WHO, SDGs.