The document approved a program to improve measures to counter the spread of some topical viral infections for 2022-2025.
The main directions for further improvement and expansion of medical and social assistance provided to the population for the timely prevention, diagnosis and treatment of certain viral infections have been determined:
• increasing the coverage of screening examinations for the early detection of viral hepatitis types “B” and “C” and the treatment of diseases in all regions of the republic;
• full coverage of persons at high risk of infection, including medical workers working with blood and its components, with hepatitis “B” vaccination;
• free provision of medicines to patients in the course of treatment who have been diagnosed with type “C” viral hepatitis during screening examinations;
• phased full provision of consumables (reagents and test kits) for the detection of viral infections in the primary health care system;
• creation and maintenance of a unified electronic register of chronic viral liver diseases in all medical institutions, sanitary and epidemiological service and non-governmental medical organizations;
• improving the control of safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines, test kits and antiviral drugs;
• conducting scientific research on the problems of viral infections, introducing an automated disease control system;
• organizing widespread explanatory, informational and propaganda work among the population about measures to prevent infection with viral infections.
According to the resolution, a procedure is established in accordance with which:
- starting from July 1, 2022, the annual number of screening examinations of the population of the republic for types of viral hepatitis “B” and “C” will be increased to 1 million, the number of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) examinations – up to 15 thousand, treatment of patients with viral hepatitis type “C” – up to 10.5 thousand people;
- starting from September 1, 2022, in relation to persons who have committed offenses under Article 190 of the Administrative Responsibility Code, along with the definition of responsibility, a procedure for conducting screening examinations for types of hepatitis “B” and “C” is being introduced at their expense.
The Ministry of Health was instructed to ensure the development by IT-Med, a limited liability company under the foundation of the Ministry of Health, by November 1, 2022, of a unified electronic registry of chronic viral liver diseases, and subsequently, its technical and software support.
In addition, starting from July 1 of this year, non-governmental medical organizations provide vaccination of their employees working with blood and its components against hepatitis “B” infection, as well as regular entry of information about this into the Register starting from the moment the register is functioning. At the same time, vaccination of unvaccinated workers is carried out at the expense of medical organizations at their main place of work.
Starting from January 1, 2024, the presence in non-governmental medical organizations of vaccination of workers working with blood and its components against hepatitis “B” infection, as well as maintaining a register in the prescribed manner, are one of the requirements and conditions for licensing medical activities.
The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Innovative Development, the Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade and the Agency for Development of Pharmaceutical Industry were instructed to submit proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers by the end of 2022 on localizing the production of such products as vaccines, medicines and diagnostics necessary for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of viral diseases.
