Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen!

On behalf of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Armenia and me personally I cordially welcome the participants of the International Conference: ‘’Focus on the Hepatitis B’’.

Viral Hepatitis is polyetiologic group of diseases, which is responsible for 1,5 million deaths each year. Most of them are associated with HBV-infection. Around 600 million people, or every 11-th person in the world, are currently living with HBV and HCV infection. They are at serious risk of developing the liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. That is why viral hepatitis is recognized as a global public healthcare problem in the world.

I am glad, that this Conference, organized on the initiative of Armenian Hepatological Forum, has unified the leading specialists and doctors of various fields not only from Armenia and CIS countries, but also from Europe, Asia and the USA.

In medicine, as in any other area it is impossible to achieve any progress without cooperation. Moreover, one can hardly imagine the modern medicine without the international experience in evidence-based medicine. In this context collaboration with specialists, advanced medical centers, laboratories and international associations could have a tangible contribution in finding the most efficient ways for the solution of the pressing issues of Hepatology.

I wish constructive dialogue and fruitful work to all the participants of the Conference.

Minister of Healthcare Republic of Armenia, MD, Professor
Armen Muradyan