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Releases report on federal funding, creates Hepatitis C Secretariat
and Task Force
TORONTO, Oct. 1 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government today announced an action
plan to improve hepatitis C treatment and prevention and released a report
showing that Ontario spent all its federal funding for the treatment of people
infected with hepatitis C.
"We are ensuring that every penny of the federal fund goes to care for
people living with hepatitis C," said Smitherman. "We are building on existing
hepatitis C programs with new initiatives to improve the health of people
living with hepatitis C."
The report findings indicate that Ontario spent at least $82.5 million
between January 2002 and June 2004 for the treatment of people infected with
Hepatitis C. The Federal Hepatitis C Undertaking Agreement is provided to the
provinces to pay for the treatment and care of people infected with hepatitis
C through the blood supply before 1986 and after 1990. The federal government
is providing Ontario with $132 million to Ontario over 20 years ending in
2014/2015. Ontario has received $66.3 million of this funding to date.
The provinces are required to account for how they spent the federal
funding in January 2007. Ontario is the first province to report on how it
used the funding received so far.
Smitherman announced two key initiatives to improve Hepatitis C care and
prevention:
- A 15-member Hepatitis C Task Force chaired by John Plater, who is
Past-President of Hemophilia Ontario, Co-chair of the Ontario
Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS and Chair of the HIV Community
Advisory Panel at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. The Task Force,
made up of representatives from Hepatitis C advocacy groups, health
professionals, community workers, individuals living with
hepatitis C, and those at risk of hepatitis C, will advise government
on strategies to improve hepatitis C prevention and treatment. This
includes reaching out to all people with and at risk of hepatitis C
to help them access assistance programs.
- A Hepatitis C Secretariat at the ministry to support the Task Force,
co-ordinate the public reporting on how Ontario spends the federal
funding and administer assistance programs for people living with
hepatitis C.
"I am looking forward to working with the minister to improve the
situation for everyone living with hepatitis C and to stop the spread of this
deadly disease," said Plater.
"By working together with people living with and fighting hepatitis C, we
will reduce the toll of this terrible virus," said Smitherman. "John Plater's
knowledge, integrity and energy will be of tremendous benefit to Ontarians,
especially those with or at risk of hepatitis C. We are grateful for his
ongoing commitment."
This news release is available on our website at:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca
Version française disponible
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BACKGROUNDER
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ONTARIO GOVERNMENT TAKES ACTION ON HEPATITIS C
The McGuinty government is taking action with new initiatives to improve
the health and quality of life of people living with and at risk of
hepatitis C.
- Publicly reporting on how Ontario spent federal funding to provide
treatment to people infected with hepatitis C through the blood
supply before 1986 and after 1990;
- Establishing a broad-based, 15-member Hepatitis C Task Force chaired
by John Plater to advise the government on strategies to improve the
prevention and treatment of hepatitis C; and
- Creating a Hepatitis C Secretariat at the ministry to support the
Task Force.
Accounting for Federal Funds
Preliminary findings of the study released today show that Ontario spent
at least $82.5 million for the treatment and care of people living with
hepatitis C between January 2002 and June 2004, exceeding the $66.3 million in
federal funding received for that time period.
The Federal Hepatitis C Undertaking Fund provides money to the provinces
to cover health services for people infected with hepatitis C through the
blood supply. Ontario's total portion of the fund is $132.6 million over 20
years ending in 2014/2015.
A team of experts including physicians and public health professionals,
an economist, and an epidemiologist conducted the study. They tracked the
treatment received by 29,898 individuals between April 1, 2002 and March 31,
2004. The group represents 43 per cent of the estimated 70,000 Ontarians
diagnosed with this disease and includes people infected through the blood
system and other means.
Two renowned hepatitis C specialists, Dr. Morris Sherman, a hepatologist
and Chair of the Canadian Viral Hepatitis Network, and Dr. Murray Krahn, Head
of the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the University Health Network
independently reviewed information about the health services these individuals
received.
The costs were extrapolated to cover the 30-month period from the signing
of the Federal Hepatitis C Undertaking Agreement to the present (January 2002
to June 2004).
<<
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DEFINITE HEPATITIS C PROBABLE HEPATITIS C
SECTOR EXPENDITURES ($M) EXPENDITURES ($M)
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Labs 14.7 6.8
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Drugs 12.5 0.0
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Hospital 27.3 7.4
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Physician (OHIP) 10.7 10.1
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Home Care 0.4 0.2
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Public Health 0.4 0.0
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Total (24 months) 66.0 24.5
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Estimated Total (30 months) 82.5 30.6
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NB - scientists are doing final checks, figures may vary slightly.
These figures do not include costs for chronic and long-term care or
treatment at regional cancer centres for people living with hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C Task Force
The minister is establishing a 15-member Hepatitis C Task Force to give
advice on long-term strategies to improve the prevention and treatment of
hepatitis C. The Task Force will be chaired by John Plater, Past-President of
Hemophilia Ontario. The Task Force will build on the work of the previous
Hepatitis C Advisory Committee. It will be made up of a broader cross-section
of individuals including people living with hepatitis C, people at risk of
hepatitis C, advocates, health professionals and community workers.
The task force will also give advice on:
- the development of a cost forecasting model;
- establishment of a program to enhance hepatitis C nursing care across
Ontario, particularly under-serviced areas;
- the health care needs and resources of people living with hepatitis C
over the next 10-15 years;
- how the government can better reach and communicate with all people
living with hepatitis C about the federal and provincial assistance
plans and treatment and prevention.
Hepatitis C Secretariat
The minister is creating a Hepatitis C Secretariat at the ministry to
support the Task Force and the public reporting on Ontario's use of the
Federal Hepatitis C Undertaking Agreement funding. This funding covers
treatments and services for people with hepatitis C infected through the blood
supply before 1986 and after 1990. The provinces are required to account for
how they spent the funding in January 2007. Ontario is the first province to
report on how it spent the funding received so far.
The Hepatitis C Secretariat will administer the Ontario Hepatitis C
Assistance Plan (OHCAP) that provides direct financial assistance to people
infected before 1986 and after 1990, as well as the 1986-1990 Hepatitis C
Settlement Agreement and the Multi-Provincial Territorial Assistance Program.
>>
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For further information: Members of the media: Eva Lannon, Minister's Office, (416) 327-4320; Dan Strasbourg, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, (416) 314-6197; Members of the general public: (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154
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