Chari Cohen, MPH, HBF’s senior public health researcher and program manager, gave two presentations at the Asian Health Conference hosted by New York University in New York City Sept. 28-29, 2007. She shared the survey results obtained from 85 Chinese participants who attended the HBF’s annual B Informed Patient Conference in Philadelphia this past summer.

Surprisingly, it was found that insurance and language were not the primary obstacles to receiving care for Chinese patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B. Rather, lack of referral to experienced doctors was the primary barrier – the Chinese patients just don’t know where to go for medical care for their hepatitis B. This survey was conducted as part of the Foundation’s public health research program to document and address the gaps in care for patients with hepatitis B, particularly in the Asian communities.

Ms. Cohen also presented an update on the national advocacy efforts of the Hepatitis B Foundation that includes coalition building, policy development, and cultivating grassroots advocacy efforts to reach out to key policy makers and public health agencies. This includes being part of the leadership of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, supporting the “National Hepatitis B Act” that was re-introduced in October 2007; and participating in National Hepatitis B Awareness Week to make hepatitis B an urgent health priority.