Parliamentary Inquiry releases report on hepatitis C in Australia

Parliamentary Inquiry releases report on hepatitis C in Australia

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health released its final report into its inquiry into hepatitis C in Australia on 25 June.   Hepatitis Victoria commends the report. 

The Report raises the level of political debate around hepatitis C higher than it has ever been before.  Important issues are addressed head on –  the need to tackle stigma, targeted awareness raising campaigns, increasing access to testing (including rapid testing), and increasing treatment through greater primary care. 

Considerable attention was given to prisons, and while it stops short of recommending needle and syringe programs in prisons, the recommendations are consistent with this.  Unfortunately, while there is significant discussion about new treatments, the recommendations do not include a call for urgent approval of these.

We do not know how the Government will choose to respond to the Report, but we hope that it will act on the recommendations swiftly and decisively.  We also call on the Victorian Government to implement the many recommendations that are within their own health and corrections spheres of responsibility.  I’d like to thank all our supporters and Community Advocates, who took the time to prepare submissions and present their very personal stories.  Your support and involvement was pivotal to the good outcome.

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Health/Hepatitis_C_in_Australia/Report