The Parliamentary Inquiry into Hepatitis C in Australia has tabled its report making 10 recommendations including the setting of targets for testing and treatment.

The Committee also recommended:

• the development of a national strategy for blood-borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections in prisons
• the Australian Government raise the issue of hepatitis C in prisons, and the establishment of national standards in prison health delivery as part of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council process
• the Department of Health work with States and Territories to produce culturally and linguistically specific information for migrant groups with higher rates of hepatitis C infection to inform them about hepatitis C including: transmission methods, testing and treatment options.
• the Department of Health work with States and Territories to:
  • develop strategies to address the high prevalence rates of hepatitis C in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population
  • develop a standard approach to data collection and reporting of prisoner health in custodial settings
  • give consideration to the provision of support for safe tattooing, barbering and any other legal practices which may present a risk of hepatitis C transmission in custodial settings.

Full report
http://bit.ly/1eIfLaW