44457 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Associate Minister of Health

44457 (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 ‘Improve access to and uptake of hepatitis C testing and treatment services in prisons’ under ‘Focus area 5: Integration and access to care’ in the National Hepatitis C Action Plan?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that hepatitis C training sessions were conducted with Corrections teams, and point-of-care testing was offered at some sites. I am further advised that during the quarter, Te Manawa Taki region continued to offer regular clinics at Probation Services centers using the mobile hepatitis C van. This is a pilot approach working in collaboration with an HIV nurse who also offered HIV and syphilis testing.