Croatia: Informing and educating general practitioners about viral hepatitis

Tatjana Reic, Hepatos, speaks at the workshop

At the large hall of the Institute for Public Heath ‘dr Anrija Stampar’ in Zagreb, a workshop was held for general practitioners on 3rd March 2010: ‘Viral hepatitis – why actively treat it?’ The workshop took place within the tribune called ‘Zagreb – Healthy City’

Everybody present was welcomed by Dr Tihomir Majic, head of the 'dr Andrija Stampar' Institute, and the opening note was delivered by Vladimira Lesnikar MD, epidemiologist, head of the Epidemiology dept. of the Institute.

Then lectures followed:
- Mirjana-Lana Kosanović MD Epidemiology Office of the Institute 'epidemiology of hep C – incidence, prevalence and necessity of registration of the ill
- dr sc Irena Hrstic Institute for Gastroenterology of the Clinic for Internal Diseases KBC Zagreb; Referral Center for Liver Diseases of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare ‘Clinical Picture and pre-therapy  treatment of the ill’
- Prof. Dr. sc. Rajko Ostojic, MD Institute of Gastroenterology of the Clinic for Internal Diseases KBC Zagreb Referral Center for Liver Diseases of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare ‘Therapy – indications and counter-indications’
- CATIH Hepatos president Tatjana Reic MS held a lecture 'The importance of cross sector cooperation in a fight against viral hepatitis' which is a part of 'Reduction of Discrimination of the Ill with hepatitis based on their clinical status.'

85 doctors were present, and they earned 4 points by their Chamber. Everyone found the lectures interesting and showed willingness to see more of it.

Aiming at an active approach to diagnostics and treatment of HCV patients, the Institute ‘dr Andrija Stampar’ developed cooperation with the Referral Center for Liver Diseases of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare which enabled the ill to have an evaluation of the disease in a short period of time.

In accordance with that, all newly discovered (untreated) anti-HCV positive patients have their blood tests in the Hepatology ambulance of the KBC Rebro every Monday between 12 and 14 pm. Making an appointment is not neccessary.