Question reference: S6W-05926
- Asked by: Miles Briggs, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 27 January 2022
-
Current status: Answered by Maree Todd on 7 February 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider launching public health campaigns to address the stigma around hepatitis C and other blood borne viruses.
Answer
The Scottish Government recognises the negative impacts of stigma, both on individuals and on wider efforts to prevent blood borne viruses. Over the next year, the Scottish government will focus on progressing the commitment to eliminate Hepatitis C by 2024; developing a plan to eliminate HIV transmission by 2030; and re-invigorating the Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses Framework. In all these strands, we will consider a range of actions to tackle the stigma around blood borne viruses in order to improve outcomes for individuals and encourage testing and earlier diagnosis.