Pledge to wipe out hep C in 5 years

THE potentially deadly hepatitis C virus will be ‘effectively eliminated’ from Scotland by 0 4, the Scottish Government has pledged.

The aim is to treat more people to cure the blood-borne infection, despite a multi-million-pound bill for drugs.

Around 1,000 Scots are thought to have hepatitis C, which causes liver damage. By aiming to eliminate it by

0 4, Scotland will have a target six years ahead of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Many people with hepatitis C do not have any symptoms and are unaware they have the infection. They may only find out when they develop symptoms later on as their liver becomes increasingly damaged.

Left untreated it can cause scarring of the liver, liver failure or liver cancer.

The Scottish NHS bill for the drugs to cure the virus – glecaprevir and pibrentasvir – was £41million last year.

There were 1,4 3 new diagnoses of the virus in 018, compared with 1,511 in 017. The 018 figures were the lowest number of new cases since 1996, when there were 1,35 .

Health Protection Scotland and the Scottish Government’s Treatment and Therapies Group say having no more than 5,000 people infected with the virus and new annual presentations of linked serious disease and deaths in single figures would meet WHO goals.

Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: ‘Scotland has long been known as a world leader when it comes to tackling hepatitis C. This ambitious target confirms we’re still leading the way in our mission to effectively eliminate the virus by 0 4.’

Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs said: ‘The SNP’s record on hitting targets it sets itself on health is abysmal. It would be an insult to patients and their families if this drive delivers nothing but false hope.’