Mobile Hepatitis Outreach and Prevention Effort

ongoing

This European project brings together three partners—Fundación para la Investigación Biomédica del Hospital Gregorio Marañón (FIBHGM) and its mobile screening unit (FIBHGM-UCM) in Spain, the Croatian Society for Liver Diseases “Hepatos” in Croatia, and Ares do Pinhal (ADP) in Portugal—to deliver and refine mobile liver health services for highly vulnerable populations. Each partner operates mobile units that travel to urban streets, homeless shelters, prisons, and migrant communities, providing at-risk individuals (including people who inject drugs, sex workers, and homeless persons) with on-site testing, counseling, and direct links to specialized care. Building on robust experience in clinical research (FIBHGM) and hands-on service provision (FIBHGM-UCM, Hepatos, ADP), the consortium aims to reduce the burden of viral hepatitis and related liver conditions, advancing health equity and strengthening local health systems. The overarching goal is to standardize and optimize mobile healthcare delivery—particularly for viral hepatitis and liver disease—across Europe’s underserved settings. By conducting operational research on prevalence rates, cascade-of-care bottlenecks, and stigma, partners will generate evidence-based protocols for mobile clinics that can be adopted in other regions and EU Member States. Mobile units offer a cost-effective, flexible platform that complements national healthcare systems by reaching populations who rarely attend conventional facilities. This approach strengthens health surveillance: local authorities can track prevalence data in real time, adjust interventions accordingly, and improve access to lifesaving antiviral treatments. By merging field-tested mobile healthcare innovations with rigorous operational research, the consortium will deliver a replicable blueprint for equitable, patient-centered liver care.