Hep C testing a success in Queensland prisons

Queensland is driving an insidious disease out of the state’s prisons, and protecting the wider community at the same time.

Queensland is working to drive hepatitis C out of the state’s prisons, with a high-intensity “test and treat” program.

More than 2900 prisoners have been tested in the past year, and the 430 who tested positive were offered antiviral medication that can cure the disease within 12 weeks.

The program is not only aimed at stopping the spread of the disease within the prisons, but also in the wider Queensland community upon prisoners’ release.

Hepatitis C is bloodborne virus that impacts the liver. Without treatment it can lead to liver disease and liver cancer. Most infections are sparked through unsafe injection practices, unsafe health care, unscreened blood transfusions, injection drug use and sexual practices that lead to exposure to blood.

Queensland has the largest prisoner test and treat program for hepatitis C in Australia.

It is estimated that more than 74,000 Australians are living with the disease, despite the availability of therapies that can cure more than 95 per cent of people.

Treating hepatitis C within custodial environments is instrumental in reducing its spread in the community.

Fifteen per cent of prisoners tested were positive.

The high-intensity testing and treatment program in Queensland correctional centres is funded by Queensland Health and delivered by The Kombi Clinic, with support from the University of NSW’s Kirby Institute. This testing program supports routine testing and treatment services provided by Queensland Health.

Corrective Services assistant commissioner for custodial operations (Central and Northern Region) Eloise Hamlett said: “As a bloodborne virus, hepatitis C can present real risks to officers, other prisoners and to the safety of the community upon the prisoner’s release.

“The hepatitis C program is an important health initiative running in correctional centres around Queensland with wide-ranging benefits to protect our officers and improve prisoner health, including encouraging them to become drug-free.”

Kombi Clinic nurse Mim O’Flynn said that visits to one particular prison over two years have resulted in cases falling from 39 per cent to 16 per cent among the tested prison population.

Professor Jason Grebely, UNSW’s Kirby Institute said: “These programs have been critical for achieving high rates of testing and treatment for hepatitis C, with the potential to reduce the numbers of people living with the infection across Queensland.”