VN010 - To review the project of integration and decentralization of HCV treatment at district HIV outpatient clinics in Viet Nam with GF supported DAAs

Background

Viral hepatitis epidemic remains a major public health issue in Viet Nam. According to mathematical modelling results developed by MOH in collaboration with WHO, it is estimated that in 2017, almost 8 million Vietnamese people are chronically infected with HBV and 1 million people are chronically infected with HCV. HIV and HCV co-infection was reported at 35% of HIV patients according to IBBS 2015. Although national guidelines for hepatitis B and C treatment were issued by MOH, access to treatment to hepatitis B and C still very limited for many reasons.

In 2018, WHO advocated and provided technical advices to MOH to include DAA in the health insurance reimbursement list. As the result, DAAs were included in the Circular 30 which has been effective since 1st January 2019. Although DAAs has been reimbursed by health insurance, low reimbursement rate (50%) has precluded patients access to this live-saving treatment. Consequently, uptake of HCV treatment through health insurance scheme is low. With strong advocate from WHO and MOH, in 2020, GFATM agreed to support DAAs for treating HCV among PLHIV who have HCV/HIV coinfection. In this global fund supported project, HCV treatment service has been integrated and decentralized at district HIV outpatient clinics. This is the first time, HCV/HIV patients can receive HCV treatment at district HIV OPC with free of charge DAAs while health insurance only reimburses HCV treatment services at provincial hospitals only. Thus, experiences from this project will be important evidence to advocate for decentralization of HCV treatment services to district health facilities and integration in HIV treatment clinics.

WHO is calling for a capable team to carry out a review of the HCV treatment project to document the results as well as lessons learnt from the integration and decentralization of HCV treatment for people living with HIV and people who inject drugs (PWID) in Viet Nam.

Address for applications:

Administrative Officer

World Health Organization

UN Building, 304 Kim Ma Street, Hanoi, Viet Nam

Or by email at: wpvnmapplicants@who.int

Note: applicants should indicate vacancy notice number and title of position in the email subject