Hepatitis in Uzbekistan

Advancing the Elimination of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and Hepatitis (HCV) Across Uzbekistan

Integral Global Health (IGH) is committed to supporting Uzbekistan’s efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030. Through a multi-faceted approach, IGH is working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Viral Hepatitis (CDC/DVH), CDC-Uzbekistan, the Research Institute of Virology (RIV), the Central Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health (CSEWPH), and the Ministry of Health (MoH) to strengthen national policies, laboratory capacity, and targeted interventions. This initiative comprises three key activities: developing a National Action Plan, strengthening laboratory diagnostic capacity, and implementing a micro-elimination campaign.

Developing a National Action Plan (NAP) for Hepatitis Elimination

Building on previous collaborative efforts, including a national serosurvey and strategic planning workshop, IGH is leading the development of a National Action Plan (NAP) for 2026-2030. This plan will provide a comprehensive framework for scaling up hepatitis prevention, screening, treatment, and surveillance efforts nationwide. A technical working group (TWG) of experts will be formed to draft the plan, representing six main pillars: advocacy and awareness, treatment, laboratory capacity, surveillance and data management, and prevention (including vaccination, blood safety, and infection prevention and control).

The TWG has begun to convene bi-weekly over four months to establish clear goals and objectives aligned with CDC and WHO recommendations. Key priorities include integrating screening, referral, and treatment data into a new electronic patient registry. The finalized NAP will undergo a stakeholder review and approval process before being disseminated nationally.

Strengthening Laboratory Diagnostic Capacity

One of the major challenges in Uzbekistan’s hepatitis elimination efforts is the limited availability of diagnostic testing at the subnational level. While rapid anti-HCV tests are widely available, confirmatory PCR testing is restricted to only 14 laboratories, limiting access to timely diagnosis and treatment. IGH and in-country partners aim to expand PCR testing capacity to 42 laboratories across the country, ensuring greater access to care.

IGH and local experts will conduct external quality assessments (EQAs) in these laboratories to ensure high-quality diagnostic services. Using international reference samples provided by CDC/DVH, RIV will verify the performance of PCR test kits and develop HBV and HCV control panels for laboratory standardization. An EQA questionnaire will also be created to assess laboratory operations and identify areas for improvement. The findings will be compiled into a report and shared with all participating laboratories and stakeholders to guide future quality improvement efforts.

Micro-Elimination Campaign: Awareness, Screening, and Treatment

IGH and its partners will implement a targeted micro-elimination campaign to increase awareness, expand screening, and improve access to treatment. This campaign consists of two key components: a public awareness campaign and screening and treatment services for high-risk populations.

A four-month national educational campaign will be launched to improve public understanding of hepatitis transmission, prevention, and treatment. Educational materials will be developed in Uzbek, Karakalpak, and Russian and distributed via health facilities, social media, and local television. Community leaders will be engaged to promote participation and encourage at-risk populations to seek testing and care.

Screening and treatment programs will target high-risk patients in Uzbekistan’s hemodialysis centers, hematology departments, and oncology-hematology departments. This initiative will ensure that vulnerable individuals receive proper screening, vaccination, and treatment and that target facilities are aware of proper infection, prevention, and control (IPC) practices. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be developed for hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment, including referral pathways to streamline patient access to care. All screening and treatment data will be recorded in the new electronic patient registry, allowing for real-time monitoring of patient outcomes and program effectiveness.