Strategic Initiatives: Addressing the Epidemic of HIV and Hepatitis C in British Columbia

This document was prepared for the Honourable Colin Hansen, Minister of Health Services in March 2003. The BCPWA Society has long been aware of the magnitude of the HIV-Hepatitis C co-infection epidemic in BC but only recently have the treatment and care obstacles faced by those infected with both HIV and Hepatitis C come directly to their attention. Broadly, the issues of critical significance to the care and management of co-infected persons are 1) routine patient management issues, 2) Pharmacare issue, and 3) solid organ transplantation. This document highlights these issues and makes recommendations on how to best address them and includes the Final Report of a multi-stakeholder meeting regarding the care, treatment and support of co-infected individuals and the prevention of new HIV/HCV infections where virtually all these recommendations were independently raised and agreed upon.