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Download (3.52 MB) Hepatitis C is the first curable chronic viral infection, yet many people remain undiagnosed or disconnected from care. Over 110,000 people in Ontario are living with hepatitis C, yet nearly 1/3 of cases are undiagnosed.
If left untreated, it can develop into serious liver disease and liver cancer. If caught early, 95% of Hepatitis C cases are easily cured in a few weeks, averting this risk. The medication that cures hepatitis C is now available at no cost to everyone who lives in Ontario.
The key to ending hepatitis C by 2030 is routine testing and access to treatment. Meeting this goal will not only support the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities, but it will support the sustainability of our health system by averting the need for more expensive downstream interventions. Primary health care providers, especially those whose work is focused on advancing health equity, have a crucial role to play in this work. Hepatitis C is disproportionately prevalent among equity-denied populations including Indigenous people, newcomers from high-prevalence regions, people who have been incarcerated, people who use substances, and people who have experienced homelessness. Trusted relationships and wrap-around care that includes psychosocial support are essential.
The Hepatitis C Roadmap Ontario is part of a global strategy spearheaded by the World Health Organization to end hepatitis c by 2030. It was adapted to the specific characteristics of Ontario's population by a coalition of health care providers, community organizations, and people with lived and living experience of hepatitis C. In this webinar, Kate Palbom and Bernadette Lettner introduced the Roadmap and related resources, and they shared how integrating hepatitis C testing and treatment into everyday primary care can strengthen patient attachment, reduce health inequities, and drive hepatitis C elimination at the micro level.
# Recording and Slide Deck
Watch the recorded webinar below and access the slide deck here.
Check out the resources below to learn more, or reach out to Bernadette and Kate with your questions.
# Additional Resources to Support Hepatitis C Elimination
# Learning Opportunities for Primary Health Care Providers
- Hepatitis C Fundamentals: Online course for Primary care Providers in Ontario: A CME accredited, self-directed, 2-hour course created by the Roadmap coalition.
- Liver ECHO, UHN: ECHO is an interactive online medical education program, connecting health care providers with an interprofessional specialist team to advance learning and enhance clinical skills.
# Tools for Providers Serving Immigrant and Newcomer communities
- Multilingual Resources on HIV, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis (CATIE): Health information in 10 languages commonly spoken by newcomers to Canada and three Indigenous languages as well as French and English.
- Routine Practice: Educational short video campaign promoting hepatitis B and C screening for newcomer patients.
# Access to Free Education and Materials for Clients and Providers
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The CATIE Ordering Centre distributes HIV and hepatitis C resources free-of-charge to frontline service providers across Canada.
- For help with finding resources or placing orders, please visit their FAQ page.
- EduCATIE: HIV and hepatitis C courses for service providers
# MoH-funded Ontario Hepatitis C Teams
These community-based, multidisciplinary teams provide low-barrier, wrap-around care for people living with or at risk for hepatitis C. They were created by the Ministry of Health to support marginalized populations in Ontario who have or are at risk for hepatitis C. There are 26 Teams across the province.
Hepatitis C teams provide:
- Clinical services such as testing and treatment for HCV, HBV and HIV, and other primary care.
- Psycho-social support including counselling, mental health support, and referrals for housing and other social services.
- Community-based work such as outreach, education, harm reduction services and more.
Hepatitis C teams serve:
- People who use substances
- People involved in the provincial correctional system
- People who are homeless or underhoused
- Youth who are street-involved
- Indigenous people and communities
Email Kate Palbom to learn more or for a warm referral to a team..