‘12 Asks’ for 2012

In addition to the ‘Am I Number 12?’ campaign, the World Hepatitis Alliance and patient groups around the world are asking national governments to sign up to ‘12 Asks’ for 2012.

The ‘12 Asks’ relate to a series of commitments that recognise the impact of the diseases and the importance of adopting measures that address the issue from a public health perspective. The ‘12 Asks’ to governments are a central element of the campaign aimed at setting objectives both internationally and nationally for improvements in health outcomes for patients.

The first six ‘Asks’ are considered essential and are therefore the same for all countries. They include targets for surveillance and recognition of the public health burden caused by hepatitis B and C.

The World Hepatitis Alliance has also proposed six further ‘Asks’ for patient groups to use or adapt for a particular country, examples of which include effective surveillance and publication of national incidence and prevalence statistics as well as a commitment to examine cases of best practice internationally.

Internationally established

1. Public recognition of chronic viral hepatitis as an urgent public health issue
2. The appointment of an individual to lead Government strategy nationally
3. The development of a patient pathway for screening, diagnosis, referral and treatment
4. Clear, quantifiable targets for reducing incidence and prevalence
5. Clear, quantifiable targets for reducing mortality
6. Clear, quantifiable targets for screening

Nationally adaptable

7. Effective surveillance and publication of national incidence and prevalence statistics
8. Commitment to examine cases of best practice internationally
9. Commitment to work with patient groups in policy design and implementation
10. Provision of free and anonymous (or confidential) testing
11. A public awareness campaign that alerts people to the issue and is committed to reducing stigma
12. Commitment to an ongoing national vaccination programme

If you are a patient group engaging with government as part of the ’12 Asks’ initiative, we would like to hear about your experiences. Please contact the World Hepatitis Alliance at contact@worldhepatitisalliance.org.