Relatively few patients infected with the hepatitis C virus through intravenous drug abuse receive effective antiviral therapy. The aim of this study was to determine if supervised treatment in a drug treatment centre could improve compliance with antiviral therapy. A pilot study of supervised anti-viral treatment in a community non-residential drug treatment facility was conducted. Thirteen patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 2 or 3 were identified in a drug treatment clinic. Six patients agreed to treatment. Full treatment course was administered in all 6 with sustained viral response in 5/6.

This study demonstrates that effective treatment penetration can be improved for this patient group by shared care with drug treatment services, without the need for significant increases in resources.