WHO has made available the membership of the Guidelines Development Group (GDG) for key updates of the 2015 WHO Guidelines for the care and treatment of persons diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and the 2017 WHO Guidelines on hepatitis B and C testing. This guideline update will be included in the planned 2024 Consolidated Guidelines on hepatitis prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care which will incorporate both existing and new recommendations relating to chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and C virus (HCV) infection.
The GDG group will meet virtually on the 2-5 May 2023 across 7 sessions.
The main objective of this HBV meeting is to update key recommendations and/or develop new recommendations on key topics:
Day 1 will focus on expanded treatment eligibility in adults, adolescents and children, and thresholds for use of non-invasive tests for staging of liver disease.
Day 2 will focus on consideration of additional antiviral regimens (TAF and dual therapy), and expanded criteria for use of antiviral prophylaxis for prevention of mother to child transmission.
Day 3 will focus on HBV diagnostics (HBV PoC viral load, HBV DNA reflex testing); and testing for Delta co-infection.
Day 4 will focus on simplified service delivery and key good practices to promote access, adherence and retention in care.
In line with WHO policy on conflict of interest, members of the public and interested organizations can access the biographies of the GDG members and inform WHO of their views about them. All comments should be sent by email to [email protected] by 2 May 2023.