Regional multistakeholder meeting under the auspices of

the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU,

the Bulgarian Healthcare Committee

and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bulgaria

Registration

60

Vitosha Hall Lobby

Opening session and greetings

• Dr. Daniela Daritkova-Prodanova, Chair of the Healthcare Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria
• Mr. Jean-Luc Sion, Policy Officer, DG SANTE – Unit C3 Health Threats, European Commission
• Dr. Cristian-Silviu Bușoi, Member of The European Parliament, Co-Chair of The MEP Friends of the Liver Group
• Dr. Skender Syla, Head of the Bulgarian office of the World Health Organization
• Dr. Angel Kunchev, Chief State Health Inspector, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bulgaria
• Mrs. Tatjana Reic, President of the European Liver Patients' Association

Moderator: dr. Stanimir Hasardzhiev, Chairperson of the National Association for Fighting Hepatitis “Hepasist”

30

Vitosha Hall

I. Plenary session – Setting the scene

Overview of existing international and European initiatives and strategies on screening and prevention

• Mr. Jean-Luc Sion, Policy Officer, DG SANTE – Unit C3 Health Threats, European Commission – „Combatting HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and tuberculosis in the European Union and neighbouring countries; policy instruments and good practices” 
• Dr. Antons Mozalevskis, Medical Officer, World Health Organization - Regional Office for Europe – „HIV and viral hepatitis in the WHO European Region: challenges and the way forward”
• Mrs. Marinela Debu, Vice President/Treasurer, European Liver Patients' Association – „HEP CORE: Patients monitoring the implementation of hepatitis B and C policy recommendations in Europe”
• Prof. Henrique Lopes, Coordinator, Let’s End HepC International Project – „Science and Political perspectives: the necessary bridge on Hep C”
• Mr. Bertrand Audoin, Vice President, International Association of Providers of AIDS Care – „Fast-Track Cities in Europe: Cities working together with countries can end the AIDS epidemic in Europe!”
• Discussion

Moderator: Dr. Angel Kunchev, Chief State Health Inspector, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bulgaria

150

Vitosha Hall

Lunch

60

TBA

II. Plenary session –Examples of good practices from the region and beyond

Information on good practices and the current situation in each country from the region and beyond

• Dr. Jordi Casabona, Director of CEEISCAT/Member of the Steering Committee of the INTEGRATE Joint Action – „Joint Action on integrating prevention, testing and link to care strategies across HIV, viral hepatitis, TB and STIs in Europe - INTEGRATE”
• Dr. Ulrich Marcus, Department of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted or blood-borne infections, Robert Koch Institute, Germany – „Integrated strategy on HIV and Viral Hepatitis - The German experience”
• Mrs. Corina Silvia Pop, State Secretary, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Romania – „Combating hepatitis B and C to reach elimination. A multisectoral approach for promoting public health”
• Mrs. Jana Feldmane, Head of Health Environment department, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Latvia – „Latvia's experience in development and implementation of national policy for elimination of hepatitis”
• Dr. Angel Kunchev, Chief State Health Inspector, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bulgaria – „Immunization for viral hepatitis in Bulgaria – a successful practice”
• Discussion

Moderator: Prof. Lyudmila Mateva, President of the Bulgarian Association for the Study of the Liver (BgASL)

120

Coffee break

30

III. Session – Country-specific working groups

Involved participants will be grouped by nationality for the purpose of drafting and agreeing on concrete actions that can be taken to relevant countries for improving screening and prevention policies.

90

Conclusion of day 1

30

Vitosha Hall

Dinner