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This Action Plan

This Action Plan is a milestone towards significantly reducing the burden of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C, with the ultimate vision to render Hong Kong free of chronic viral hepatitis.

The Hong Kong Government has all along recognised the public health importance of viral hepatitis. The Government announced in the 2017 Policy Address the setting up a steering committee to formulate strategies to prevent and control viral hepatitis effectively.

Co-chaired by the Director of Health and the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, the Steering Committee on Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis (SCVH) was established in July 2018. Appointed by the Secretary for Food and Health, membership comprises representatives of academia and experts of different medical specialties, and representatives of the Food and Health Bureau, the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority (See Annex II).

The SCVH is tasked to review local and international trends and developments in the prevention and control of viral hepatitis; advise the Government on overall policy, targeted strategies and effective resource allocation related to prevention and control of viral hepatitis; as well as conduct and coordinate the monitoring and evaluation of viral hepatitis control and recommend appropriate response. With the valuable advice from members who are renowned experts and academics specialising in viral hepatitis, the SCVH has formulated this Action Plan.

While high-level deliberations and broad-based strategies are important aspects of the work of the SCVH, the groundwork of frontline assessment, formulation and implementation is also essential. Sizeable overlap notwithstanding, the effort to control viral hepatitis consists of mainly a public health and a clinical approach. Therefore, two working groups have been formed under the SCVH. The Public Health Working Group is convened by the Consultant of Viral Hepatitis Control Office, Department of Health, while the Clinical Working Group is convened by the Chief Manager (Quality and Standards), Hospital Authority. The terms of reference and membership of the working groups are depicted in Annex III and IV respectively.

Steering Committee on Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis (SCVH)