Question reference: S5W-19508
- Asked by: David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 22 October 2018
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Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 6 November 2018
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what the timetable is for implementing each recommendation in the report, Clinical Review of the Impacts of Hepatitis C: Short Life Working Group Report for the Scottish Government.
Answer
Application forms were issued on 16 October 2018 to all those currently eligible for the new annual payments for those with chronic hepatitis c (HCV) and those for the widows, widowers or partners of those with chronic HCV who have died, which were both key recommendations in the Clinical Review report. Beneficiaries have been asked to return their application form by 5 November if they wish to apply for an annual payment and wish their payments to be backdated to 1 September 2018. The Scottish Government hopes to ensure that the first set of monthly payments is made by the Scottish Infected Blood Support Scheme (SIBSS) before the end of 2018.
Renal disease due to Membranoproliferative Glomerulonenephritis (MPGN) will be added to the list of conditions eligible for advanced HCV payments through the Scheme and anyone who feels they have this condition can contact SIBSS now for an application form. All the other recommendations within the Clinical Review report have been implemented.