NYS Hepatitis C Elimination Summit
On February 7, 2017, state and local government representatives; medical providers; harm reduction and social service providers; and community advocates came together in Albany for the nation’s first Hepatitis C Elimination Summit.
Participants held panel discussions to learn from each other about Hep C care, prevention, and advocacy, and formulated a framework for eliminating Hepatitis C in New York State.
The Summit’s Steering Committee presented their recommendations to inform a statewide plan to eliminate Hepatitis C, including:
- Enhance HCV prevention, testing and linkage to care services for people who inject drugs, people who are incarcerated, men who have sex with men, and other populations disproportionately impacted by HCV infection.
- Expand HCV screening and testing to identify people living with HCV who are unaware of their status and link them to care.
- Provide access to clinically appropriate medical care and affordable HCV treatment without restrictions, and ensure the availability of necessary supportive services for all New Yorkers living with HCV infection.
- Enhance NYS HCV surveillance, set and track HCV elimination targets and make this information available to the public.
- Commit NYS government and elected officials, public health professionals, HCV experts, and industry partners to leadership and ownership of the NYS Plan to Eliminate HCV alongside community members living with and affected by HCV.
The Summit concluded by calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo, the NYS Legislature, and industry partners to make a joint commitment to Hepatitis C elimination, and for appointment of a formal NYS Hepatitis C Elimination Task Force.
Read the full Consensus Statement
To endorse the consensus statement, email Clifton at clifton@vocal-ny.org.
The live stream of the event has been archived and can be viewed here.
Background
In the spring of 2016, VOCAL-NY and other community organizations active in the HCV response partnered with the NYS DOH and NYC DOHMH to consider and build consensus on the opportunity for statewide HCV elimination. A broad 3 committee of 94 stakeholders—state and local government representatives; epidemiologists; physicians; harm reduction and social service providers; and community advocates—came together to develop recommendations to inform a statewide plan to eliminate HCV infection. Between September and mid-December, work groups met to draft and prioritize recommendations in five areas of focus: prevention; testing and linkage; care and treatment access; data, surveillance and metrics; and social determinants of health.
Press
N.Y. officials on board to end hepatitis C. Times Union.
Advocates push for task force to end hepatitis C. Politico
Albany to host’s state’s first hepatitis C summit. Times Union
Gov. Cuomo must appoint a task force to end hep C epidemic, advocates say. Crain’s New York Business.
