The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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£4 million to tackle Hepatitis C

26/09/2006

A £4 million Action Plan to tackle rates of Hepatitis C infections in Scotland was announced today.

The Plan aims to put in place mechanisms to ensure better co-ordination, planning and accountability of Hepatitis C-related services and build on existing activities and interventions to reduce the number of new cases in Scotland. Funding will be distributed to NHS Boards to assist them in enabling improvements in these areas.

A further £314,000 has also been allocated to an Executive-led campaign which will focus on improving knowledge among professionals to ensure that the people and their families affected by Hepatitis C get the support they need and access to the best treatment and care available.

Speaking ahead of World Hepatitis Awareness Day on the October 1, Health Minister Andy Kerr said:

"Hepatitis C is a significant public health problem, not only in Scotland but world-wide that cannot be ignored. The first Hepatitis C Action Plan published today will tackle this issue head-on.

"We want to reduce future spread of Hepatitis C by increasing awareness and in turn, improve the care and treatment available to patients.

"We have set out a range of actions that NHS Boards, the voluntary sector, Health Protection Scotland and other professionals will take forward over two years. These actions will allow great strides to be made in improving the co-ordination of services, prevention, diagnosis, understanding and treatment of the virus.

"An estimated 50,000 people living in Scotland are infected with Hepatitis C for which there is currently no vaccine to protect against. Scotland has the highest prevalence of the virus in the UK and that is why the prevention of new infections is so important. Early diagnosis of the virus will reduce transmission to others, limit the rate of liver damage and prevent long-term complications.

"Rates are particularly high among former and current injecting drug users and testing is particularly important for this group. Action will be focused on making more information available to them on the risks of transmission and increasing the availability of needles, to prevent sharing."

Professor David Goldberg, Health Protection Scotland said:

"This is a visionary Plan of Action which recognises that Hepatitis C poses one of Scotland's greatest public health challenges and addresses the need to review strategy and resources relating to the prevention and diagnosis of, and clinical care of persons with, the infection."

Dr Niccie Rowan, UK Hepatitis C Resource Centre said:

"We are delighted to welcome this is a much anticipated Action Plan which has benefited from the Scottish Executive's consultation process.

"We are delighted with the clear lines of responsibility and accountability outlined in the plan. Equally of the indication that the government aims to tackle hepatitis C as a long term commitment by releasing this as an Action Plan 'Phase 1' with Phase 2 planned beyond 2008. The theme of integrated multi-service working is understandably highlighted and will be crucial to its success."

Mr Dave Liddell, Scottish Drugs Forum said:

"We welcome the launch of the HCV Action Plan as an important first step in ensuring that those with HCV receive effective care and treatment and we must do all we can to limit new HCV infections. Injecting drug use remains the main route of spread of the virus therefore we particularly welcome the focus on increasing the availability of injecting equipment."

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that can seriously damage the liver and affect its ability to function. It is mainly spread through blood-to-blood contact with an infected person. The greatest risk of acquiring the virus in the UK is through injecting drug use. It is estimated that in Scotland over 85 per cent of individuals who have Hepatitis C were infected in this way.

It is often called a hidden killer as it can infect an individual for decades before it is discovered and can be life-threatening for around 20 to 30 per cent of people who develop chronic Hepatitis C. Faster diagnosis, more appropriate treatment and provision of more local services will provide Hepatitis C sufferers with better support to manage their illness.

An estimated 50,000 Scots or 1 per cent of the population have been infected with Hepatitis C. This compares with an estimated 0.5 per cent of the population in other parts of the UK. However, Scotland still has one of the lowest rates of Hepatitis C in the world - as 1.8 per cent of people in the United States are infected, 3 per cent in Italy and prevalence is much higher in the Middle East, Asia and Africa at 18 per cent.

Approximately one-third of infected people reside in Greater Glasgow, one third in Lothian, Grampian and Tayside and one third in other NHS Board areas. Two-thirds are male and the vast majority are aged less than 50.

This funding has been distributed to NHS Boards based on the incidence and prevalence of Hepatitis C in their NHS Board area.

In addition to the new funding announced today NHS Boards currently receive over £8.6m to prevent the spread of bloodborne viruses including Hepatitis C and HIV.