Crackdown on hepatitis C aims to wipe out disease in five years
● Accelerated programme to eliminate virus as blood scandal inquiry extended
The potentially fatal bloodborne virus, hepatitis C, could be eliminated in Scotland by 2024 – six years ahead of a target set by the World Health Organisation.
NHS Scotland is set to increase the number of people treated for the virus to at least 2,500 over the next year and then to 3,000 annually from 2020-21 as part of an effort to wipe out the disease.
Around 21,000 people are estimated to be living with hepatitis C in Scotland, a condition that causes progressive damage to the liver. The virus has no noticeable symptoms and, as a result, many people are unaware they are infected. It is also the third most common cause of liver disease, one of the five “big killers” in the UK and the only one where mortality is rising.
The step-up in treatment comes just days after it was announced that an inquiry into the NHS infected blood scandal is to be extended due the number of witnesses who have come forward.
Almost 3,000 people have either submitted statements or promised them to the inquiry, for which hearings have been held in Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Leeds and London. The infection of up to 30,000 people with contaminated blood has been called the biggest treatment disaster in the history of the NHS as people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders were given blood infected with HIV and hepatitis viruses during the 1970s and 80s.
The Scottish Government said yesterday that by setting an aim to eliminate the hepatitis C virus by 2024, Scotland will have a target six years ahead of the World Health Organisation.
Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick said: “Scotland has long been known as a world leader when it comes to tackling hepatitis C and this ambitious target confirms that we are still leading the way in our mission to effectively eliminate the virus by 2024, six years ahead of the World Health Organisation’s expectations.
“Recent figures show we are exceeding our targets on the number of people we are treating for hepatitis C and it is vital that we maintain this momentum.
“We must keep getting the message out that hepatitis C can be cured with a short course of pills, and that anyone who has ever been at risk should get tested.”
Rachel Halford, chief executive of the Hepatitis C Trust, said the NHS’S “highly effective treatments” should mean “there is no reason for anyone to be living with hepatitis C” and said it was urgent to find those living with an undiagnosed infection.