Hepatitis C Action Plan

Scotland’s Action Plan for Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is recognised as one of the most serious and significant public health concerns of our generation. By December 2006, Health Protection Scotland (HPS), estimated that 50,000 persons in Scotland had been infected with Hepatitis C and that 38,000 were chronic carriers.

Following an extensive consultation, the Scottish Government responded to the public health challenge with a comprehensive approach in the form of a two-phased Hepatitis C Action Plan for Scotland, launched in September 2006. Its aims are:

  • To prevent the spread of Hepatitis C particularly among injecting drug users (IDUs).
  • To diagnose Hepatitis C infected persons, particularly those who would most benefit from treatment.
  • To ensure that those infected receive optimal treatment, care and support.

The full text version of the Hepatitis C Action Plan for Scotland, Phase I and Phase II, can be accessed below.

Details of stakeholder events, reports and publications are also available:

Hepatitis C Action Plan: A two-phased approach

The Hepatitis C Action Plan for Scotland was launched by the Scottish Government in 2006 in two phases.

Phase 1

The Hepatitis C Action Plan Phase I (2006-2008) is comprised of 41 actions covering the areas of co-ordination, prevention, testing/treatment/care/support, education/training/awareness-raising and surveillance/monitoring. It largely focused on generating the evidence base to inform and plan actions in Phase II. The evidence, key issues and proposed actions were shared with nearly 200 stakeholders at a consultation event, following which actions were revised and a proposed Phase II Action Plan, together with costs for the development and expansion of Hepatitis C services beyond 2008, were considered and approved by Ministers in April 2008. Only one action was rescheduled for implementation during Phase II - the piloting of an in-prison needle and syringe exchange scheme.

References
Phase 2

The Hepatitis C Action Plan Phase II (2008-2011) was launched in May 2008, with approximately £43 million of funding over three years, to deliver 34 actions designed to significantly improve all services applicable to the prevention/diagnosis/treatment and care of persons with Hepatitis C. Services range from those that provide education to young people in schools about the dangers of injecting drug use and Hepatitis C to the treatment of infected persons with antiviral drugs and the associated social support required to support them and their families through what, often, is a challenging journey.

The Phase II actions cover the areas of testing/treatment/care/support, prevention, information generating initiatives and co-ordination. Each action has an outcome, a lead organisation(s) accountable for delivery, supporting network(s) and performance indicator(s) to gauge progress.

References

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