The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has called for clean needle programs to be introduced in prisons to protect both staff and inmates and reduce the spread of blood borne viruses.

AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, made the call while launching the organisation's position statement on blood borne viruses (BBV). "All the evidence shows that harm minimisation measures, such as access to condoms and lubricant, regulated needle and syringe programs, and access to disinfectants such as bleach, protects not just those in custody, but prison staff too.

“It also reduces the likelihood of someone being discharged from prison with an untreated BBV, and spreading it in the outside community."

He said the AMA supports NSPs (Clean Needle Programs in SA) as a frontline approach to preventing the spread of BBVs.

"Prison-based NSP trials have been shown to reduce the risk of needle-stick injuries to staff, and increase the number of detainees accessing drug treatment, while showing no adverse effect on illicit drug use or overall prison security.

Dr Gannon said with the introduction of new BBV treatments, including new hepatitis C treatments, now is the time to identify people with undiagnosed BBVs, and prisons provide an unique opportunity to protect the health of inmates.