Viral hepatitis represents one of the most neglected pandemics in the world.  Without global attention, 1 in 12 people in the world have become chronically infected with hepatitis B and C, 350 million people have become chronically infected with hepatitis B and 170 million people have become chronically infected with hepatitis C.  HBV causes 60-80% of primary liver cancer and takes a 700,000 to 1 million lives a year.  Liver cancer is the sixth most common newly diagnosed cancer and the third most common cause of cancer mortality in the world, with an estimated 626,000 new cases and 598,000 deaths per year. The nearly equal numbers of incident cases and deaths reflect the high fatality rate of the disease, which has only 3-5% overall survival.  

Nokia's Policy on Hepatitis B Testing in China:

People who have hepatitis B can usually lead normal lives but are often discriminated against in China. In April 2007, a case was brought against Nokia by someone who claimed our operation in Dongguan decided not to hire him after a medical evaluation ordered by the company revealed he had hepatitis B. Nokia investigated the case to establish whether the Dongguan unit was in breach of our global policy. After this incident we reviewed the whole blood testing procedure in China and stopped testing for hepatitis B as part of the pre-employment medical evaluation. Instead, we now offer awareness training that provides accurate information on the disease and its contagiousness to help end discrimination against people with hepatitis B. We also offer voluntary hepatitis B vaccinations to our employees in China.

Over 80% of liver cancer cases worldwide occur in developing parts of the world, particularly Asia, Melanesia, and Africa.  Besides the adverse health impacts of viral hepatitis, millions bear the burden of discrimination.  Discrimination against HBV infected individuals is widespread in schools and the work place.  A survey released in 2007 showed that 77% of multinational companies in China would not hire people chronically infected with hepatitis B, and 70% of over 10,000 people surveyed said chronic HBV and HIV as the major causes of employment discrimination in China.