Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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964. To ask the Minister for Health if Ireland is still on target to reach the World Health Organisation goal of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41436/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE established a National Hepatitis C Treatment Programme (NHCTP) in 2015 and began the process of providing treatment for Hepatitis C using Directly Acting Antivirals (DAA’s) to patients prioritised according to clinical need. The HSE in its National Service Plans has committed to the continued implementation of a multi annual public health plan for the therapeutic treatment of hepatitis C. The Programme is allocated funding of €25m each year by my Department.

The NHCTP aims to make hepatitis C a rare disease in Ireland by 2026 and to achieve the World Health Organisation goal of eliminating hepatitis C by 2030. Achieving this will require identification and treatment of the majority of chronically infected individuals in the community. In this regard, the NHCTP are currently engaged in a formal epidemiological study to determine prevalence and to facilitate informed decisions regarding screening.

With the outbreak of COVID-19, hepatitis C clinics were significantly impacted. However, clinics are returning to normal and the NHCTP is confident that the Programme is on target to make hepatitis C a rare disease in Ireland by 2026, and in alignment with the WHO goal, to fully eliminate the disease in Ireland by 2030. To ensure that these targets are met, the NHCTP has implemented the following:

1.The Community Prescribing Project

2.The Irish Prison Service Treatment Programme

3.Extending the Seek and Treat Approach to people who are non-methadone dependant

The National Hepatitis C Treatment Programme Strategy 2020-2026 is currently under consideration by the Department. This refreshed strategy will set a clear direction for the further expansion of the programme.