Box 17.11Task-shifting

There is emerging evidence from high-income countries that task-shifting can help deliver effective HCV-related services to vulnerable key populations with outcomes comparable to specialist-level care (346, 451). In British Columbia, Canada, a nurse-coordinated but specialist-supported model of care with specific training and clear protocols resulted in good HCV treatment outcomes in rural and small urban centres (452), and in prisons in Australia (451). Nurses were responsible for patient assessments and education as well as making referrals to other appropriate services according to patients' needs. In the ECHO programme, New Mexico, United States, primary health-care providers successfully provided high-quality HCV treatment to patients in rural areas and prisons (346).

Source: Hepatitis Testing Innovation Contest, 2016

From: 17, SERVICE DELIVERY APPROACHES FOR VIRAL HEPATITIS TESTING – examples from the field

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WHO Guidelines on Hepatitis B and C Testing.
Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017 Feb.
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