treatment and [advanced examples of desirable considerations] about patients with hepatitis in order to understand the actual condition of patients with hepatitis in work sites, and shall cooperate with business operator organizations to conduct dissemination of information about hepatitis.

f) The national government shall request that business operator organizations cooperate to develop a system to provide appropriate hepatitis treatment to patients as well as to maintain an appropriate work environment.

g) The national government shall collect information about systems related to hepatitis treatment including systems for providing support for the medical expenses associated with hepatitis, expensive health insurances, the injury and disease allowance and the disability pension, and shall cooperate with local governments to promote the role of core centers as medical institutions including the liver disease information center.

h) The Hepatitis Information Center shall collect the latest information regarding hepatitis treatment, a list of core centers and specialized institutions, and information about hepatitis treatment available in core centers, and shall post the relevant information on the website of the Hepatitis Information Center in an easy-to-understand manner in order to inform health care workers and the general public as soon as possible.

## Chapter 5 Education of personnel involved in prevention and treatment of hepatitis

## (1) Policies to be developed

The education of personnel involved in the prevention and treatment of hepatitis is important to prevent new infections and to improve the level of hepatitis treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to further educate those who have knowledge of hepatitis infection control and those likely to direct individuals with hepatitis to appropriate treatment after infection is detected, in order to support activities to prevent new infections.

Access to the most recent information and knowledge regarding the latest hepatitis test is very important for personnel involved in hepatitis treatment, to enable them to determine the most appropriate treatment strategies and to provide appropriate explanations to patients, therefore, personnel involved in hepatitis treatment should improve their learning performance and broaden their information resources.

Furthermore, it is also important to educate supervisors who support improvement in the level of hepatitis treatment in regions.

## (2) Issues to be considered

a) The national government shall promote research to develop materials for dissemination of recommendations for infection control in daily life, and guidelines for infection control in facilities for group living, in order to prevent new hepatitis virus infections. The national government shall cooperate with local governments using results of the relevant research and shall disseminate information about hepatitis. (Repeat)

b) The national government shall enhance the education of personnel involved in providing support in the community and at work sites, including follow-up after hepatitis testing and recommendation of treatment in order to provide hepatitis treatment appropriate to the pathological condition of patients with hepatitis in cooperation with local governments. (Repeat)