Research supports work to eliminate deadly virus affecting drug users

A Southampton doctor has met with MPs to look at ways to eliminate hepatitis C in people who use drugs. 

Dr Ryan Buchanan is researching ways that pharmacists and other health professionals could help people who are usually hard to reach with normal health care. His work has a particular focus on people who use injectable drugs.

He started his work mapping transmission of the virus a decade ago on the Isle of Wight.

Dr Buchanan is a consultant liver specialist at University Hospital Southampton. He is also an Associate Professor in Hepatology at the University of Southampton. He balances his time between research and treating people.

He is supported by the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Wessex.

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C (Hep-C) is a virus that attacks the liver. If left untreated, it can cause serious health problems like liver failure or cancer.

If someone shares needles with others to take drugs, they're more likely to catch it. Often, those communities are part of a network that is hard for health care services to reach.

The World Health Organisation wants to wipe out Hep-C completely within the next 10 years.

Making change happen

Dr Buchanan has helped to draw up a new report titled Principles to achieve and maintain hepatitis C elimination in England.

He supported its launch with the Hepatitis C Trust in Westminster ahead of World Hepatitis Day on July 28th.

Dr Buchanan’s research has contributed to the content of the national report. He presented new research in the Netherlands this year that shows the value of using people with lived experience to support infected patients with treatment. It suggests targeted interventions could work in helping eliminate Hep-C.

He said: “There is reasonable evidence to suggest that Hepatitis C treatment can be a catalyst for positive behavioural change. This may be associated with fewer risk-taking behaviours or the cessation of drug use altogether.”