To ask the Minister of Health how she plans to respond to the Global Health’s Viral Hepatitis Elimination Strategy by 2030, to which the UK Government has signed up, in terms of developing and delivering a public health campaign and associated action plan.

In 2007 my Department published an action plan for the prevention, management and control of hepatitis C in the north of Ireland. The Hepatitis C Managed Clinical Network was established as part of the Action Plan and the network has taken forward many areas in the plan in collaboration with other agencies. In 2011 the work of the network was expanded to include hepatitis B in view of its shared risk factors, and now brings together stakeholders with an interest in hepatitis B and C.

The WHO Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis 2016—2021 is referenced at pages 16-17 in the 2016 annual network report. The report can be found at- http://pha.site/HepBCreport. The Hepatitis B and C Network shares its overall goals that new infections should be prevented, all people at potential risk of infection should be tested and those found to be positive should be referred for assessment for treatment and care.

I fully support the work of the Hepatitis B and C Managed Clinical Network to reduce the impact of hepatitis on the population of the north of Ireland.