The government policy is set out in these Ministry of Health Document's
Action on Hepatitis C Prevention 2002
Date of publication: October 2002 http://www.moh.govt.nz/cd/hepc
the Ministry of Health releases Action on Hepatitis C Prevention, a plan to minimise the spread of hepatitis C in New Zealand.
This action plan identifies priority areas for action at a national, regional and local level by government agencies, and in a local area by District Health Boards, service providers and others.
The report has never been fully implemented or resourced.
The ministry seems to be able to spend money to write documents but not to implement them effectively with many more New Zealanders infected with HCV due to this.
ACC PAYMENTS BAD BLOOD (2007)
If you were infected through a blood transfusion The one-off payment is available to people who: Have been infected in New Zealand with the hepatitis C virus through blood or blood products where the blood was collected in New Zealand before 27 July 1992.
- Continue to test positive for the presence of the virus in their blood or have a record of a treatment which has successfully cleared the virus.
- Choose to put their details forward so an amount can be calculated for them, choose to accept any calculated amount offered and then enter into a payment agreement with the Crown.
Anyone who has not already applied and thinks they may be eligible for a one-off payment can call 0800 689 001 for further information, including detailed eligibility criteria
Helen Clark, bad blood update Monday, 07 April 2008 NZPA "So far, 486 victims have applied for one-off payments and the Government has paid out $25.5m. Most of the affected haemophiliacs -- about 155 -- have received packages from $43,200 to $69,600, enabling many to start a chemotherapy-type drug course for hepatitis C."
An Integrated Approach To Infectious Disease: Priorities for Action 2002-2006
http://www.moh.govt.nz/cd/hepc
Another document that seems to lay out some priorities.
The Integrated Approach to Infectious Disease (IAID) complements and reinforces a number of other key goals and objectives in the New Zealand Health Strategy, including improving physical health, providing accessible and appropriate health care services, creating a healthy physical environment, and reducing inequalities in health status.
another report that seems to have not been fully implemented.
Hepatitis C Advisory Group 2007 - 2008
In 2008 An advisory group has been established to assist the Ministry of Health and District Health boards improve hepatitis C treatment services to all people with hepatitis C, who are entitled to publicly funded health services.
A major component of the $30 million package announced in December last year is an additional $5 million per year to be invested to improve access to, and uptake of, hepatitis C treatment services. An advisory group has been established to assist the Ministry of Health and District Health boards improve hepatitis C treatment services to all people with hepatitis C, who are entitled to publicly funded health services.
The advisory group members are Ed Gane, a hepatologist at the Liver Transplant Unit in Auckland (chair); Nigel Stace, gastroenterologist at Capital and Coast District Health Board; Tony Farrell, GP from Mt Maunganui; Ken Couper, GP from Hamilton; Margaret Fraser, hepatitis specialist nurse at Otago District Health Board; Robyn Brown, Hepatitis C Resource Centre in Auckland;Steve Waring, Haemophilia Foundation of New Zealand and Penny Pere, Ambulatory Services Manager, Hawkes Bay District Health Board.
"I am thrilled that this group has met and work is underway to improve treatment services for the estimated 30,000 New Zealanders living with hepatitis C,'' Dr Feek says.
Some information on this group available here http://www.nzsg.org.nz/research/hepatitis/hepatitis-c/
NZ HCV Stock take Hepatitis C Advisory Group 2008