44454 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health

44454 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter (January to March 2024) toward the objective ‘Reduce barriers to access to hepatitis C treatments in the community’ under ‘Focus area 5: Integration and access to care’ in the National Hepatitis C Action Plan?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that work continued on the development of hepatitis C training for nurses and pharmacists to increase community access and treatment uptake. This follows support from the New Zealand Medication Classification Committee and approval and gazetting from Medsafe to reclassify the hepatitis C treatment (Maviret) to enable nurses and pharmacists with special training to supply the treatment without prescription. This training was rolled out from June 2024 and once credentialled, nurses and pharmacists can provide treatment for hepatitis C. I am also advised that a prototype Hepatitis C Support and Treatment service has been launched in Health NZ’s Northern Region. This virtual service provides support to people requiring hepatitis C treatment that have fallen off traditional treatment pathways.