Enhancing notification-driven linkage to care for people living with hepatitis C in Queensland: system constraints and solutions.

Introduction: Achieving the World Health Organization's 2030 hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination goals necessitates robust and outcome-focussed surveillance. In Australia, HCV is a nationally notifiable condition, with state and territory health authorities leading surveillance and public health response. This study aimed to examine Queensland's HCV surveillance system and to identify barriers to, and solutions for, implementing notification-driven linkage to care.

Methods: This study was conducted in two parts. System mapping and gap identification were conducted through consultation with key stakeholders operationally involved in HCV surveillance. Secondly, a proof-of-concept descriptive analysis of two months of notification data (January to February 2023), coinciding with a period of enhanced surveillance work, was conducted to scope the magnitude of follow-up and to provide insights into groups needing targeted support. Cases were grouped into indeterminate, active and cleared categories.

Results: System mapping and gap analysis identified significant constraints, including the absence of automated data processes and key data elements. These factors impeded the implementation of surveillance case definitions and hindered the identification of priority groups for linkage to care. Of 2,257 cases, 1,218 (54.0%) were individuals who had cleared HCV infection. There were 305 cases with incomplete diagnostic testing; 92/305 (30.2%) were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Incomplete diagnostic testing was significantly more likely to occur for cases tested in the community compared to those tested in a correctional setting (p < 0.001). Of 734 active cases, 83.1% were male, 53.3% were tested in corrections, and 36.0% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

Conclusion: To strengthen Queensland's HCV surveillance and enable effective linkage to care, several recommendations are proposed. These include amending public health regulations to require negative HCV RNA testing notification; establishing systematic real-time or close to real-time linkage of related datasets, including treatment data; automating the reporting of Point of Care Testing results; implementing a HCV clearance cascade; and adopting a centralised state-wide public health model. Addressing these barriers will be essential to achieving optimal HCV surveillance and care in Queensland.