Iran and the World Health Organization have agreed to create a joint working group with the aim of eradicating hepatitis C in the country.

According to The Iran Project, eeputy health minister Hassan Farshidi in a meeting with WHO’s Assistant Director General for Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases, Jerome Salomon, underscored the establishment of a joint working group to eliminate hepatitis C.

The officials met on the sidelines of the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA) held in Geneva, Switzerland, from May 27 to June 1.

During the meeting, Farshidi presented a report on the measures taken in Iran to control and prevent hepatitis C and stressed the key strengths of Iran's national program, including the strong primary health care services (PHC) and the integration of the programs to fight and manage hepatitis.

Salomon, for his part, lauded Iran for its commitment and strong will in the elimination of hepatitis C and announced WHO’s readiness to support Iran's plans in this area.

He also called Iran a role model for other regional countries in the elimination and control of hepatitis C.

The two sides agreed to establish a joint working group to support the eradication of hepatitis C program in Iran.

Also, a team of experts from the World Health Organization is scheduled to visit Iran to assess the strengths and needs in eliminating hepatitis C.

The 77th WHA

The strategic roundtables of the 77th WHA spanned the overarching theme of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly: All for health, health for all.

During the meeting, experts discuss and reflect on current and future priorities and challenges facing global health, IRNA quoted the deputy health minister, Mohammad Hossein Niknam, as saying.

Einollahi presented a statement on 34 specific documents related to the country's health system.