The Viral Hepatitis Elimination Roadmap project is a focused initiative aimed at developing a strategic plan to eliminate viral hepatitis in BC. The project looks at everything to do with viral hepatitis: how to prevent infection, screening and diagnosis, treatment and, and care.. The goal is to make a clear plan with specific steps, deadlines, and goals to  towards the elimination of  viral hepatitis in BC. The project looks at different things, like spreading the word about viral hepatitis, improving testing technology and access to testing, making sure treatment is available, and involving doctors, organizations, and people who have personal experience with viral hepatitis.

In public health, elimination usually means reducing to zero, through planned and deliberate interventions, either or both:

• The number of infections of a specific disease.
• The number of people who have a disease, in a defined location as a result of deliberate, planned interventions.

For viral hepatitis, targets have been set to ‘eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat’. To achieve this, targeted actions are required to prevent new infections, diagnose and treat people who have already acquired an infection, and link people with liver disease related to viral hepatitis to care for ongoing monitoring and follow-up.

The objectives of the BC viral hepatitis elimination ‘Roadmap’ consultation and engagement process are to engage diverse stakeholders to:

• learn about the current state of viral hepatitis in BC,
• define targets and goals for elimination,
• determine strategies for achieving elimination by 2030, and
• identify necessary resources and modifications.

The project is co-led by the BCCDC (British Columbia Centre for Disease Control) and the BC Hepatitis Network, with guidance from CanHepC (Canadian Network on Hepatitis C). These organizations play a crucial role in overseeing the project, providing strategic direction, and ensuring its alignment with best practices and national priorities. They work collaboratively to manage the project, coordinate activities, and engage relevant stakeholders to drive the successful implementation of the Viral Hepatitis Elimination Roadmap.

Leadership and Accountability Structure

The leadership and accountability structure for the BC viral hepatitis elimination ‘Roadmap’ consultation process will be collaborative, inclusive, and multi-sectoral the Executive Committee (EC) will oversee the process and ensure that the appropriate stakeholders are engaged in consultations, as well as that appropriate stakeholders are invited to be in the Steering Committee (SC) and Working Groups (WG).

The Executive Committee comprises leaders representing major stakeholders in viral hepatitis elimination across BC and nationally. These stakeholders include people affected by viral hepatitis and the groups representing them, community-based organizations, experienced physicians and nurse clinicians involved in treating or managing hepatitis infection and its complications in BC, public health officials in BC, the BC Ministry of Health, and the Canadian Hepatitis C Network (CanHepC).

Executive Committee provides high-level guidance, strategic direction and oversight to the Steering Committee.

The Steering Committee guides and directs the working group activities, offers strategic guidance and oversight throughout the project lifecycle. They also make critical decisions on resource allocation, and help in identifying and mitigating potential project risks.

The Working Groups are teams of experts that work together to facilitate the collection of data from different stakeholder groups. They collaborate, share knowledge and are accountable for delivering specific outcomes.

To ensure diverse representation and expertise, the working group can be divided into nine subgroups. Each subgroup focuses on specific areas, experiences, or expertise relevant to the project. This division allows for targeted discussions and a comprehensive approach. It encourages the participation of various stakeholders, ensures different perspectives are considered, and promotes collaboration across multiple domains.

• Group 1:  Indigenous Group
• Group 2:  2SLGBTQIA+ people, and youth, children & women
• Group 3:  Older People (born prior to 1965) and people who are (im)migrants or newcomers to Canada
• Group 4: People who use drugs, people with prison, forensic, or mental health experience, and people experiencing unstable housing or houselessness            
• Group 5: Data & Monitoring/Evaluation

Different groups involved in the Viral Hepatitis Elimination Roadmap project include: healthcare professionals, individuals with lived or living experience of viral hepatitis, project leads, community organizations, government agencies, and other relevant partners working towards the goal of eliminating viral hepatitis.

The project is currently underway and the aim is to complete the process by June 2024. For information on the project’s duration and key milestones, it is recommended to refer to the project website or reach out to the project team directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Project milestones and plan can be found on the Updates and Events page.

Individuals with personal or lived experience can contribute to the project by sharing their stories and participating in surveys or interviews to provide valuable insights. If you are interested to share or participate, please complete our contact form.

Healthcare professionals can participate in the project by volunteering their expertise, contributing to research, and assisting with data collection.

Yes, the Viral Hepatitis Elimination Roadmap project is open to collaborating with other organizations, including community-based groups and organizaitons or initiatives. Collaboration is encouraged to leverage expertise, resources, and collective efforts in achieving the goals of viral hepatitis elimination. Interested organizations or initiatives can reach out to the project team to explore potential collaboration opportunities and discuss ways to work together towards a common objective.

Stay updated on the project’s progress by regularly checking the project website, HepFreeBC.ca via our Updates + Events page, and subscribing to the mailing list or newsletter (to launch in the future), contacting the project team via email, and collaborating with stakeholders involved in the project.

The project expects positive changes such as a reduced burden of viral hepatitis, increased awareness and education, improved screening and testing practices, enhanced access to treatment and care, strengthened collaboration and partnerships, and progress towards the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat.

Anyone may provide feedback or suggestions for the Viral Hepatitis Elimination Roadmap project through the project website (contact form), email, public meetings or webinars (announced in Updates and Events), stakeholder engagement sessions, or collaboration with partner organizations.

To protect your privacy, we comply with the BC privacy regulations such as the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) govern the protection of personal information. These regulations outline the rights and responsibilities related to the collection, use, disclosure, and security of personal data. It is essential to adhere to these privacy regulations when handling participants’ personal information in BC.