McGuinty government commits to hepatitis C federal funding

The McGuinty government is committed to spending all of the federal funding for Ontarians infected with hepatitis C through the blood system prior to 1986 and after 1990, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

"We will make sure that every penny of the funding from the federal government is spent on the treatment and care of hepatitis C victims," Smitherman said. "Unlike the previous government, we are taking decisive action to put a program in place so that victims of hepatitis C get the care they need."

The Minister has directed ministry officials to provide a full accounting of Ontario's portion of the Federal Hepatitis C Undertaking Fund to date. "Eligible victims of hepatitis C have been waiting since 1998 for action by the province with no program in place to assist these individuals," Smitherman said.

In 1998, the federal government created the Federal Hepatitis C Undertaking Fund to provide care to individuals infected with hepatitis C through the blood supply prior to 1986 or after 1990. The fund was provided to provinces, beginning in 2001 until 2014/15.

Ontario's total portion of the fund is $132.6 million with $66.3 million received to date. The remaining $66.3 million of the federal funds will be provided to Ontario by 2014/15.

Ontario's publicly funded health care system provides a range of services and programs including drug treatment, testing, medical care and education for people with hepatitis C.

http://www.health.gov.on.ca