RENFREWSHIRE South MSP Tom Arthur has led a debate in the Scottish Parliament looking forward to a future where hepatitis C is eliminated, following publication of a report by the Hepatitis C Trust.

During the debate, Mr Arthur highlighted the importance of testing and urged people concerned to seek support and not to suffer in silence.

An estimated 37,000 people in Scotland are infected with the condition, with approximately 40 per cent remaining undiagnosed.

Hepatitis C is preventable, treatable and curable, but can cause fatal cirrhosis and liver cancer if left untreated.

It is predominantly spread through the sharing of unsterilized equipment to inject recreational drugs.

Commenting after the debate, Mr Arthur said: “I’m proud of the progress that has been made in tackling hepatitis C.

“We must now look ahead to a future where hepatitis C is no longer a public health concern.

“Eliminating a public health issue that disproportionately affects some of the poorest and most marginalised groups in our society is an extraordinary and eminently achievable opportunity which should be seized with both hands.”

The Hepatitis C Trust is the only UK-wide charity focused on hepatitis C, supporting the estimated 214,000 people living with the virus and those at risk of infection.

Mr Arthur is one of Holyrood’s ‘Hepatitis C Parliamentary Champions’, a cross-party group of MSPs who aim to keep the issue on the Scottish political agenda.