Australia on track to cure Hepatitis C

Kirby Institute/UNSW – 21 February 2017

In the first year that new generation hepatitis C regimens were made available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schemes, more than 30,000 Australians were treated for their hepatitis C virus infection – a massive increase on the 2,000-3,000 people with hepatitis C treated annually prior to the listing, according to a new report released today by the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney.

“Australia has achieved one of the most rapid uptakes of treatment worldwide and has a unique opportunity to eliminate a major infectious disease, potentially the first opportunity through treatment intervention,” said Professor Greg Dore. “Providing Australians living with hep C ongoing access to effective, well-tolerated treatment will help curb transmission of the virus, reduce rates of liver disease, and eliminate hep C as a major public health issue within a decade,” he said.

 

Source: SASHA

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