18 September 2008 - Edinburgh News
The Scottish Government has announced plans to become the world's first administration to launch a survey to crackdown on viral hepatitis.
The 12 Asks initiative involves raising awareness and gathering more information on the disease, which affects around 50,000 people in Scotland.
It follows demands from patients' groups to governments across the world.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison said: "The Scottish Government has a strong commitment to improving health outcomes for people living with hepatitis C and in May 2008 we launched the second phase of our hepatitis C action plan with a £43 million investment over three years."
Charles Gore, president of the World Hepatitis Alliance, added: "I am delighted that the Scottish Government is the first to sign up to the 12 Asks and I hope other governments will soon follow. The only way to win the fight against viral hepatitis is for governments to take action.
World governments can no longer afford to turn a blind eye to this forgotten, ignored and stigmatised killer."
