An education and advocacy service for those with the insidious but
potentially lethal Hepatitis C virus will likely close due to a funding
cut.
The Christchurch and Otago Hepatitis C Resource Centre Trust was advised it would no longer receive Ministry of Health funding in December.
The centre runs educational programmes for community groups including schools, prisons, health professionals and police about the blood-borne virus and refers individuals for testing and diagnosis if required.
Up to 40 per cent of people with Hepatitis C in New Zealand are unaware they have been infected with the virus.
The resource centres provide support for people who may have been exposed to Hepatitis C, and those who have been diagnosed.
The "discontinuation of funding" for the centres is part of the Ministry of Health's plan to "streamline and consolidate its investment in Hepatitis C services in the South Island", National Health Board group manager Grant Pollard said.
The South Island Alliance, which represents the five South Island District Health Boards (DHBs) will lead the planning of Hepatitis C services "into 2016 and beyond", he said.
South Island Alliance general manger Jan Barber said the alliance was directed by the Ministry to develop a proposal for the management of Hepatitis C services for the 2016-17 financial year in November 2015.
She said work on the proposal was in the early stages and the first step would be understanding the number of people affected and what services were currently being offered.
Christchurch and Otago Hepatitis C Resource Centre Trust chair Ian Sheerin said the cuts were a money saving exercise and "unwise".
"No one really knows the number of new infections each year but it's
estimated to be about 1000 and about 8 per cent of them will develop
liver cirrhosis and cancer within about 20 years of the original
infection.
"...the only cure for liver disease is a liver transplant and that costs a lot of money and resources and it's not practical – it's much better to prevent the infection in the first place."
He understood Needle Exchange New Zealand may be expected to expand their education and advocacy services, but there had been no commitment of additional funding for this.
Needle Exchange NZ manager Charles Henderson declined to comment on the cuts to the Trust but said he was confident the funding would be retained for Hepatitis C services.
"A much more comprehensive approach to the problem is needed with increased funding across the board," he said.
The most pressing need was for access to new treatments which cured the virus, currently not subsidised by Pharmac.
The Hepatitis C Community Clinic, funded by the Canterbury District Health Board provided testing, diagnosis and referral for treatment, nurse manager Jenny Bourke said.
The clinic provided limited education and advocacy services but Bourke said closure of the Hepatitis C Resource Centre would leave a big gap.
The resource centre referred many people to the clinic for testing, she said.
The Hepatitis C Resource Centre Otago Southland coordinator Allison Beck said the number of people assisted by the centre had doubled from 100 in 2012 to 200 in 2015, and its closure would be "devastating" for the wellbeing of those with the virus.
Sheerin said the trust would be able to continue for another six months and they hoped to find a new funding source before then.
FACT FILE
- Hepatitis C was discovered in 1988
- It spreads through blood-to-blood contact
- An estimated 150 million people are infected globally, and 50,000 in New Zealand
- It is believed only 40 per cent of those infected with chronic hepatitis C are aware they have the disease
The Christchurch and Otago Hepatitis C Resource Centre Trust was advised it would no longer receive Ministry of Health funding in December.
The centre runs educational programmes for community groups including schools, prisons, health professionals and police about the blood-borne virus and refers individuals for testing and diagnosis if required.
Up to 40 per cent of people with Hepatitis C in New Zealand are unaware they have been infected with the virus.
The resource centres provide support for people who may have been exposed to Hepatitis C, and those who have been diagnosed.
The "discontinuation of funding" for the centres is part of the Ministry of Health's plan to "streamline and consolidate its investment in Hepatitis C services in the South Island", National Health Board group manager Grant Pollard said.
The South Island Alliance, which represents the five South Island District Health Boards (DHBs) will lead the planning of Hepatitis C services "into 2016 and beyond", he said.
South Island Alliance general manger Jan Barber said the alliance was directed by the Ministry to develop a proposal for the management of Hepatitis C services for the 2016-17 financial year in November 2015.
She said work on the proposal was in the early stages and the first step would be understanding the number of people affected and what services were currently being offered.
Christchurch and Otago Hepatitis C Resource Centre Trust chair Ian Sheerin said the cuts were a money saving exercise and "unwise".
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"...the only cure for liver disease is a liver transplant and that costs a lot of money and resources and it's not practical – it's much better to prevent the infection in the first place."
He understood Needle Exchange New Zealand may be expected to expand their education and advocacy services, but there had been no commitment of additional funding for this.
Needle Exchange NZ manager Charles Henderson declined to comment on the cuts to the Trust but said he was confident the funding would be retained for Hepatitis C services.
"A much more comprehensive approach to the problem is needed with increased funding across the board," he said.
The most pressing need was for access to new treatments which cured the virus, currently not subsidised by Pharmac.
The Hepatitis C Community Clinic, funded by the Canterbury District Health Board provided testing, diagnosis and referral for treatment, nurse manager Jenny Bourke said.
The clinic provided limited education and advocacy services but Bourke said closure of the Hepatitis C Resource Centre would leave a big gap.
The resource centre referred many people to the clinic for testing, she said.
The Hepatitis C Resource Centre Otago Southland coordinator Allison Beck said the number of people assisted by the centre had doubled from 100 in 2012 to 200 in 2015, and its closure would be "devastating" for the wellbeing of those with the virus.
Sheerin said the trust would be able to continue for another six months and they hoped to find a new funding source before then.
FACT FILE
- Hepatitis C was discovered in 1988
- It spreads through blood-to-blood contact
- An estimated 150 million people are infected globally, and 50,000 in New Zealand
- It is believed only 40 per cent of those infected with chronic hepatitis C are aware they have the disease
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