In the early light of a Valencian winter morning, one can almost hear the echoes of quiet commitment — footsteps in corridors, conversations among doctors, and the collective hum of purpose that underlies great medical care. At the Hospital Clínico de València, these everyday rhythms recently merged with recognition that feels almost ceremonial in its significance: a certificate of excellence awarded for the thoughtful and complete implementation of the Decálogo para la Eliminación de la Hepatitis C. This award is not merely a plaque on the wall, but a testament to the steady, multidisciplinary effort to translate care into impact.
Hepatitis C, a contagious virus that can silently turn into serious liver conditions such as cirrhosis and cancer, is one of those public health challenges that demands persistence over flash. At its heart, the Decálogo — a consensus framework developed by liver health experts — outlines a series of ten actionable criteria for clinical centers to follow in order to have a meaningful influence on screening, treatment, follow-up, and patient outreach. The Hospital Clínico de València’s achievement lies in meeting each of these benchmarks, demonstrating both its commitment to evidence-based practice and its deep engagement with patients’ lived realities.
More than a checklist, the Decálogo represents a holistic philosophy of care that encourages collaboration among medical specialties. In Valencia, teams from digestive medicine to microbiology, pharmacy, urgent care, and primary health networks have worked together to create an integrated path from diagnosis through cure. Over the past three years, this coordinated approach has treated over 130 people with hepatitis C — achieving a cure rate nearing 99 percent — and exemplifies how modern medicine can combine precision with empathy.
During the ceremony, regional health officials gently noted that this certificate reflects years of sustained effort rather than a single breakthrough. It was a chance to acknowledge not only scientific rigor but also the quiet dedication of clinicians and support staff, whose daily routines shape a larger narrative of progress against a disease once feared for its stubborn persistence.
This moment at the Hospital Clínico de València also touches a broader aspiration shared by health systems nationally and globally: the elimination of hepatitis C as a public health threat. Aligning with strategic goals from national health plans to World Health Organization initiatives, the certification signals how local action contributes to a larger tapestry of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up — one patient at a time.
As the certificate finds its place among the hospital’s achievements, it stands as a reminder that excellence in medical care is both a destination and a journey — one marked by patience, collaboration, and the shared hope of healing.
In Valencia on Wednesday, the Hospital Clínico de València received its certificate of excellence in implementing the Decálogo para la Eliminación de la Hepatitis C, awarded by expert associations after verification that all criteria were met. Officials highlighted the center’s strong interdisciplinary care, high cure rates, and its role in furthering national strategies against hepatitis C.
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Sources
Puntocomunica El Debate / Actualidad Valencia Asociación Española para el Estudio del Hígado (AEEH) background Sanitat Generalitat Valenciana context WHO / global hepatitis elimination insights