Exploring methods for mapping and monitoring needle exchange (NEX)/opioid substitution therapy (OST) service provision

Direct acting antiviral (DAA) treatment delivery is implemented through the Operational Delivery Networks (ODN). Treatment is limited by the ability to diagnose and link/retain people in care. People who inject drugs (PWID) are less likely to access healthcare and many with hepatitis C virus (HCV) remain undiagnosed. We mapped the provision of clean injecting equipment via NEX services and OST, and pilot a data collection mechanism to enhance surveillance data allowing monitoring towards WHO’s elimination targets for HCV, facilitating test-and-treat strategies, contributing to DHSC PHOF and indicators and feeding into prevalence estimates for PWID and monitoring.

Findings will enhance our understanding of the at-risk individuals not accessing services, supporting development in refining case-finding and linkage to care interventions.