Pubdate: Fri, 22 Aug 2003
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Australia Web)
Copyright: 2003 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Contact:  http://www.abc.net.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/34
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?143 (Hepatitis)

GOVT ACCUSED OF SITTING ON HEPATITIS C REPORT

The Howard Government has been criticised for keeping a report on the 
spread of hepatitis C under wraps for almost a year.

The federal Health Department report warns the virus, which affects more 
than 210,000 Australians and can lead to liver cancer, is on the rise and 
may affect about 500,000 people by 2020.

It says there has been inadequate research and surveillance and a lack of 
resources to fight the disease.

Stuart Loveday from the Australian Hepatitis Council says the Government 
has had the findings since last November but has not acted on them.

"It's as if the Federal Government has hit the pause button," he said. 
"Nothing seems to be happening at a national level and there are services 
on the ground which are being threatened."

Federal Health Minister Kay Patterson has defended her position, saying the 
report was ordered ahead of time as the basis for a new five-year strategy 
to combat the disease.

"I have asked for a coordinated response to that report," she said. "Of 
course we won't agree with everything in the report and the states won't 
always agree with everything in the report either."

Labor's health spokeswoman, Julia Gillard, says the Minister must act 
immediately.

"We were appalled that the Minister sat on this report for as long as she 
has," she said.

"What needs to be done is she needs to work quickly and in partnership with 
all of the stakeholders groups rather than just having the report gather 
mould as it sits on the edge of her desk."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom