The European Association of the Lever, a major player in the field of hepatitis and lever diseases, launched a policy paper  which recommends that all barriers to the uptake of the continuum of care by PWID need to be removed by changing policies and discrimination that hinder access, including the criminalisation of minor, non-violent drug offences. and to adopt an approach based on public health promotion, respect for human rights and evidence.

“The major barrier to appropriate access to hepatitis C care is political resistance to harm reduction services, as well as laws and policies which criminalize drug use, drug possession and drug users themselves. To reach the desired WHO goal, combining decriminalisation of personal drug consumption and integrated interventions that include hepatitis C testing and treatment should be implemented'” 
said co-author  Dr Mojca Maticic, Slovenia.

Download the lay summary of the policy paper

Download the full policy paper