PHO Rounds: Hepatitis C in Ontario: Testing, Direct-Acting Antiviral Prescribing and Implications for Hepatitis C Elimination
Hepatitis C (HCV) is curable thanks to highly effective direct-acting antiviral drugs (DAAs), which will help to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) HCV elimination targets by 2030. Public Health Units (PHUs), ministry-funded multidisciplinary HCV treatment and care teams, and other health care providers play a key role in testing/diagnosing people living with HCV and linking them to care. The Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN) has conducted a series of analyses in collaboration with the Ministry of Health HCV Working Group to shed light on the current landscape of HCV DAA prescribing in Ontario. This work aims to understand the current trends in the prescribing of DAA, the impact of COVID-19 on prescribing, and to explore regional variation in the types and location of DAA prescribers. This work can help inform approaches to increase treatment uptake among people with diagnosed chronic HCV infection across Ontario. This is particularly important now given that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to drops in HCV treatment due to public health measures, thus slowing Ontario’s progress towards HCV elimination.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Describe pathways to HCV treatment in Ontario.
- Identify HCV DAA prescribing trends in Ontario, between 2015 and 2020.
- Determine the impact of the pandemic on DAA prescribing trends
- Identify approaches to increase HCV treatment uptake across Ontario for people with diagnosed chronic HCV infection.
Presenter(s): Mina Tadrous and Natalia Konstantelos
Mina Tadrous, PharmD, is a scientist at the Women’s College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV). He is a pharmacoepidemiologist and pharmacist and also an assistant professor at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto and an investigator with the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN). He completed a PhD in pharmacoepidemiology at the University of Toronto and previously completed a Masters in Health Outcomes and Policy Research at the University of Tennessee, and a Doctor of Pharmacy at Albany College of Pharmacy.
Natalia Konstantelos, BSc, is a PhD candidate at the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy working under the supervision of Dr. Suzanne Cadarette. Natalia completed her Honor’s Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Toxicology in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. During her undergraduate degree, Natalia worked in research at the Hospital for Sick Children, St. Michael’s Hospital, and within the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Toronto. Supported by a CIHR Doctoral award, Natalia’s doctoral research focuses on health services, pharmacoepidemiologic research methods, as well as drug safety and effectiveness.
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.
Accreditation
Public Health Ontario Rounds are a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). In order to receive written documentation for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, please check “Yes” beside the question “Do you require CME credits?” on the registration form.
College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Affiliate Members may count RCPSC credits toward their Mainpro+ credit requirements. All other CFPC members may claim up to 50 Certified credits per cycle for participation in RCPSC MOC Section 1 accredited activities.
PHO Rounds are also approved by the Council of Professional Experience for professional development hours (PDHs) for members of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI).
For more information or for a record of registration for other Continuing Education purposes, please contact capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca .
Accessibility
Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or events@oahpp.ca.
Register Here
