STAND. COM. REP. NO.1007

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.C.R. No. 16

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 16 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO DEVELOP PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE HEPATITIS C PROBLEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Health to develop a plan and programs to address treatment and prevention of hepatitis C in the State in collaboration with community-based organizations and health providers.

Testimony supporting this measure was received from the Department of Health, Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME, Local 152, AFL-CIO, Hep-C Alert, Inc., Hawaii Medical Association, Hoffman La Roche Service Corporation, Tampa Bay Hepatitis Task Force, Drug Addiction Services of Hawaii, Inc., Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii State Sterile Needle Exchange Oversight Committee, and eight individuals.

Your Committee finds that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a terrible virus that is responsible for nearly half of all chronic liver disease and cirrhosis in the nation. It is estimated that 20,000 Hawaii residents are currently infected with HCV, most of whom are unaware of their infected status and increased risk of contracting a potentially fatal liver disease. If the State does not address this health issue soon, the social and medical costs will be exorbitant. Your Committee finds that this measure appropriately focuses government and state resources on combating HCV.

Your Committee has amended this measure by stating that recent studies indicate that the prevalence of hepatitis C in first responders, such as firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and health care personnel is higher than the general population. Your Committee further amended this measure by requesting the Department of Health to brief the 2004 Legislature on its report, findings, and recommendations.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 16, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 16, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair