In Canada, we face critical barriers to truly person-centred HCV care: one important barrier is that people cannot start treatment in the same appointment when their diagnosis is made. This impedes our ability to bring HCV care to priority populations as we work towards eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.
But it doesn't need to be this way.
Ideally, a patient could get tested for HCV, receive their diagnosis, and start treatment ALL on the same day. This happens in Egypt, Myanmar, and now in Australia — so why not in Canada? What policies and regulations need to change, and to what technology do we need access in order to be a world leader on this front?
But it doesn't need to be this way.
Ideally, a patient could get tested for HCV, receive their diagnosis, and start treatment ALL on the same day. This happens in Egypt, Myanmar, and now in Australia — so why not in Canada? What policies and regulations need to change, and to what technology do we need access in order to be a world leader on this front?
On Tuesday, November 24, 2020, Action Hepatitis Canada and CanHepC co-hosted a virtual panel discussion to bring together clinical and community perspectives as we determine the path forward for Canada.
As hoped, that event has sparked conversation across the country between healthcare providers, community organizations, and policymakers.
The video is below, and transcripts and French translation will all be added to this page in the coming days, along with advocacy materials and next steps.
There is also a lot of interest in the policy landscape chart shown during the discussion, so we're putting it up here.
A few notes:
As hoped, that event has sparked conversation across the country between healthcare providers, community organizations, and policymakers.
The video is below, and transcripts and French translation will all be added to this page in the coming days, along with advocacy materials and next steps.
There is also a lot of interest in the policy landscape chart shown during the discussion, so we're putting it up here.
A few notes:
- This chart breaks down the DAA reimbursement policies/potential barriers in each province, territory, and other healthcare provision jurisdiction within Canada.
- We have identified 1 testing technology barrier (RNA Point of Care tests are not yet approved for use here by Health Canada) along with 4 possible policy barriers.
- In order for a patient to receive be tested, receive a diagnosis, and start treatment in one visit, all 5 columns across would need to be green. Red boxes indicate a policy that causes a delay.
- The chart is as yet incomplete. If you are able to help fill in the blanks for the Yukon, NWT, Nunavut and Veterans Affairs formularies, please email Sofia Bartlett at Sofia.Bartlett (a) bccdc.ca.
- A PDF version can be found here.
HCV Treatment (DAA) Reimbursement Policies across Canada
- Green = good; there's no barrier to same day hep C diagnosis and treatment starts with this policy
- Yellow = OK; functionally this policy doesn't create a barrier, but there is a possibility that the policy could become a barrier in the future
- Red = this policy is a barrier to same day hep C diagnosis and treatment starts
