From :	Ben Kamarck <Ben.Kamarck@gilead.com>
To :	Tamar Gabunia <tgabunia@moh.gov.ge>
Subject :	Re: [EXTERNAL] Media Statement
Cc :	Graeme Robertson <Graeme.Robertson@gilead.com>; Tatia Tsereteli <tatsereteli@moh.gov.ge>; Nino Talakhadze <talakhadzenin@gmail.com>
Received On :	17.01.2020 08:59

Hi Tamar, I think Graeme is the best person for the media so willl wait for him to respond. If he is not free then I can help. It is Friday evening where I am already so I won’t be free until Monday morning Georgia time at the soonest. Ben > On 17 Jan 2020, at 4:57 PM, Tamar Gabunia wrote: > > Hi Ben > > Thanks a lot! May I ask what time would work best for you or Gaeme for the call? If you could share your phone number our PR team could reach you out to agree on details. They are CC-ed on this communication. > Best > Tamar > > -----Original Message----- > From: Ben Kamarck [mailto:Ben.Kamarck@gilead.com] > Sent: 17 January, 2020 12:25 > To: Tamar Gabunia > Cc: Graeme Robertson ; Tatia Tsereteli ; Nino Talakhadze > Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Media Statement > > Hi Tamar, > > Sorry! I sent you this morning but it bounced back. It is below. If needed, Graeme or I can be available to discuss with media over phone or VC as needed. > > Gilead Sciences Statement on Georgia’s National Hepatitis C Elimination Plan > > Georgia is at the forefront of international efforts to eliminate hepatitis C (HCV) and Gilead is proud to have supported the country’s national HCV elimination plan since its launch in 2015. As of the end of 2019, Georgia’s government has successfully treated more than 58,000 Georgians with Gilead medicines. > > We understand that a small proportion of HCV medicines donated by Gilead, representing 5% of our total donation to date, reached their expiration date without being used. This is not unusual, as public health programs typically procure more medicines than they project will be needed. In this case, some of the medicines expired because Georgia transitioned to a newer and more tolerable regimen. We do not believe that the expiration of these medicines has affected the reach or impact of Georgia’s HCV elimination efforts in any way. > > Gilead continues to actively support HCV elimination in Georgia, and we are working with the Ministry of Health to ensure that Georgians living with HCV can continue to access the latest advances in HCV treatment. > > > > On 17 Jan 2020, at 3:59 PM, Tamar Gabunia wrote: > > Dear Ben > May I kindly ask if you had a chance to have the media statement approved. TV company Imedi is preparing a reportage for their main weekly news for Sunday evening. Would be great if you have the statement to share it publically. > Would it be possible for Graeme to have a Skype interview with the reporter today or tomorrow? > Many thanks for your attention to my e-mail. > > პატივისცემით, > თამარ გაბუნია > მინისტრის პირველი მოადგილე > > Sincerely, > Tamar Gabunia, MD, MPH > First Deputy Minister > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Ben Kamarck [mailto:Ben.Kamarck@gilead.com] > Sent: 14 January, 2020 12:57 > To: Tamar Gabunia > Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] RE: Feedback on Audit Report-Geo > > Great. Will send you approved version tomorrow. > > Ben > > On 14 Jan 2020, at 4:38 PM, Tamar Gabunia wrote: > > > Dear Ben > Many thanks! This look great. I’ve made small corrections for numbers: 58234 individuals completed treatment by the end of November 2019. > With kind regards > > პატივისცემით, > თამარ გაბუნია > მინისტრის პირველი მოადგილე > > Sincerely, > Tamar Gabunia, MD, MPH > First Deputy Minister > > > > > > From: Ben Kamarck [mailto:Ben.Kamarck@gilead.com] > Sent: 14 January, 2020 07:38 > To: Tamar Gabunia > Subject: RE: Feedback on Audit Report-Geo > > Hi Tamar, > > Our PR team is putting together a statement that we can share with the media. Below is a draft. Please do not share this yet. Does the below statement capture what you want? Can you help me with the yellow numbers? > > Thanks! > > Gilead Sciences Statement on Georgia’s National Hepatitis C Elimination Plan > > Georgia is at the forefront of international efforts to eliminate hepatitis C (HCV) and Gilead is proud to have supported the country’s national HCV elimination plan since its launch in 2015. As of the end of 2019, Georgia’s government has successfully treated more than 58,000 Georgians with Gilead medicines. > > We understand that a small proportion of HCV medicines donated by Gilead, representing 5% of our total donation to date, reached their expiration date without being used. This is not unusual, as public health programs typically procure more medicines than they project will be needed. In this case, some of the medicines expired because Georgia transitioned to a newer and more tolerable regimen. We do not believe that the expiration of these medicines has affected the reach or impact of Georgia’s HCV elimination efforts in any way. > > Gilead continues to actively support HCV elimination in Georgia, and we are working with the Ministry of Health to ensure that Georgians living with HCV can continue to access the latest advances in HCV treatment. > > >