Europe’s Hepatitis Surge: A New Front Line
.
A New Toolkit to eliminate Hepatitis in European Prisons: A Step Towards Health Equity
Stockholm, Sweden – In a landmark move towards health equity, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) launched a comprehensive toolkit on August 7, 2025, ahead of Prisoners’ Justice Day on August 10. The European Toolkit for the Elimination of Viral Hepatitis in Prisons (EuroHePP) aims to empower local efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis in correctional facilities, aligning with the United Nations Enduring Development Goal on Good Health and Well-Being.
The toolkit provides practical guidance on preventing,evaluating,and treating hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) within prison settings. recognizing that individuals in prison experience a higher incidence of viral hepatitis than the general population, the EuroHePP focuses on a group crucial for targeted prevention and treatment. this is notably important given the higher likelihood of a history of injecting drug use among those entering prisons, a major risk factor for HBV and HCV transmission.
Prisons, sadly, create conditions ripe for the spread of these viruses. Sharing of injecting equipment,unsafe tattooing or body piercing practices,shared razors,and unprotected sex all contribute to a heightened risk. The EuroHePP addresses these challenges head-on, offering interventions to prevent and control viral hepatitis.Developed in collaboration with European experts and practitioners, the toolkit is structured around four key sections: background, strategy development, strategy implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. It includes links to relevant public health guidance and practical tools to help understand the context and implement an elimination strategy. Real-world examples from prisons in Germany, Spain, France, italy, and Luxembourg illustrate accomplished models of care.
This resource provides evidence-based information for prison healthcare workers on establishing effective interventions. Though, its relevance extends beyond healthcare professionals, reaching policymakers, security staff, people living in prisons, peer support workers, and voluntary workers.Further support will be available in the coming months through dedicated training sessions provided by the EUDA and ECDC, designed to facilitate the toolkit’s effective implementation and scale-up of services.
Addressing Inequity: A Essential Right
The project underscores the principle of equivalence of care, a cornerstone of European and international law. This principle dictates that individuals in prison should receive the same healthcare as those in the community. As the ECDC states, “People deprived of their liberty must not also be deprived of their right to health.”
Research highlights the vulnerability of prison populations. A dossier, Invisible Populations, published in the journal Epidemiology & Prevention, demonstrates that infectious diseases remain a leading cause of preventable death in prisons.Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and high turnover rates create a high-risk environment for the spread of infections, including HBV, HCV, influenza, and COVID-19.
Initiatives like the RISE project, conducted in Italy, are working to improve vaccination coverage within prisons. This collaborative effort,involving experts from across Europe,underscores the commitment to addressing this critical public health issue.
The EuroHePP toolkit represents a meaningful step forward in ensuring that those within the justice system have access to the healthcare they deserve, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more equitable society. It’s a reminder that health is a fundamental human right, nonetheless of circumstance.