Hello Everybody,

This post is inspired by looking at the latest (political) events from my country.

In brief, people are sick and tired about the level of corruption of those who rule the country and the way to express themselves is to go on the street and demonstrate peacefully. Last week on Friday something unusual happened in the city of Bucharest: the police used too much force and tear gas against the protesters which lead to about 500 people being injured. The “fight” moved now in the political arena with political people accusing each other side of various things. Surprisingly, I do not see to much concern about the well-being of the injured people rather the discussions are held more on who was the bad guy and the rights of the people. And of course, who should be dismissed.

I hate such politics as I see the same things in the context of HCV: Too much political talking, too much talking about patent rights, too much talking about getting tested (and less about treatment options), too much talking about the rights of people with HCV to get treated and less talking about how to access the medication, too much talking about the “impressions” of various people regarding the HCV drugs thinking they are helping and yet failing succesfully to deliver a message that can really help someone seeking help to get rid of HCV. And all these discussions are held in a kind of political fairness atmosphere which create the false impression that things are on the right way and that now people are in a safe environment where HCV looks like an old, past history. In reality the context of HCV is critical.

To deliver some numbers: the Romanian health care system announced recently as a wonderful victory that the negotiations for treating 13 000 HCV patients have ended (F1-F4) and it seems the drugs will be made available in October this year. At the same time, Romania continues to have more than 600 000 HCV patients…..

No matter how you would put it, such policy helps the HCV virus to survive in the remaining +587 000 HCV patients….. Do not get me wrong, I am happy for the 13 000 people who will get the drugs, but my heart is with the remaining +587 000 who will not get it.

If you are looking to get rid of HCV, you have your chance. I do not see too much room for debate whether the generic or branded HCV drugs will work, it does work. Let the politicians do whatever debates they want, but for you think on how to get rid of the HCV virus: discuss with your doctor about what treatment is suitable to you and get the medication you may access. If you may take the branded drugs via your healthcare system, take it. If you may not, consider the pragmatic solution provided by the generic HCV drugs.

Long political debates are good for politicians, but for patients it means time wasted and a chance for the HCV virus to survive longer.

Do not waste your time!

Cheers,
RHf