Vol. 550 No. 4
418 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of drug abusers living in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area who have hepatitis C; the number of these who are not receiving treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9030/02]
The covert nature of drug misuse means it is difficult to know exactly how many drug misusers there are. I have been advised that an estimate of the number of opiate misusers in the ERHA area is between 8,000 and 13,500 individuals. Estimates of the proportion of injecting drug misusers positive for hepatitis C range from 60% to 75%. Hepatitis C is not statutorily notifiable and there is no register of those people infected with hepatitis C and consequently no reported data on the number receiving specialist anti-viral treatment.
I have been further advised that hepatology services in conjunction with the drug services determine the appropriate treatment, if any, for individual drug misusers with hepatitis C. A decision on treatment will depend on whether the hepatitis C is active or not active and whether the individual has achieved stability in his or her drug use and social circumstance. Individuals with hepatitis C in the drug services who have achieved stability in relation to their drug use and social circumstances are then referred to the hepatology services for ongoing care and treatment.
