At the event, Zurab Azarashvili presented the Georgian model of hepatitis C elimination and noted that “Georgia has a unique opportunity to become the first country to simultaneously end the two main epidemics of the 21st century - HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C - by 2025.”

"Georgia's hepatitis C elimination program differs from expanded access to treatment programs in other countries, where medical services are mainly provided to patients, who know their HCV status and refer to clinics, while Georgia's program is based on active case detection activities through various interventions. One of the best demonstrations of active case detection is the innovative project on integrated screening and detection of hepatitis C, tuberculosis and HIV infection," - Zurab Azarashvili said. 

Georgia's achievements were emphasized in terms of hepatitis C elimination at the high-level meeting and it was noted that Georgia was a leading country in this direction.

At the event dedicated to the elimination of hepatitis, the Group of Friends of the United Nations to Eliminate Hepatitis was founded, the goal of which is to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030, in accordance with the goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development and the World Health Organization.

At the event, Georgia and other member countries also signed the declaration on the creation of the Group of Friends. At the meeting, it was noted that the involvement of Georgia as a leading country was important for other member states and international organizations.