Hepatitis Australia monitors for news articles which have relevance to hepatitis B or hepatitis C in Australia. From time-to-time we also issue public statements and media releases which will also be shared here.
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The latest hepatitis C treatment data released by the Kirby Institute shows that, since March 2016, an estimated 70,260 people in Australia have commenced treatment to cure hepatitis C*. But is this enough to prevent the ongoing deaths each year in Australia from liver disease associated with hepatitis? Read more
Around 74,000 Australians have been cured of hepatitis C through the use of the direct-acting antivirals but elimination by the target date remains in doubt given the significant decline in new patient initiations. Read more
In England deaths from liver disease related to hepatitis C fell by more than 16% between 2015 and 2017, achieving the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) target to reduce HCV-related mortality by 10% by 2020 three years early. Australia has also achieved the WHO’s 2020 mortality target. Some might say that this is good news - but at Hepatitis Australia we don’t agree. Read more
Many people are unaware they have hepatitis C because the infection can have no specific symptoms until the liver has been significantly damaged. Patient uptake might be languishing in Australia but England has acted and announced a new deal with companies that will involve the pro-active identification of people living with hepatitis C. Read more
Hepatitis Australia has welcomed outcomes from the March PBAC meeting it says are "cognisant" of the need to address the fall in treatment initiations and an election commitment from the Greens. The committee recommended a number of revisions to the PBS listing of the direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C with more "significant changes" on the horizon. Read more
CEO of Hepatitis Australia, Helen Tyrrell today welcomed the commitment of The Australian Greens to support an immediate increase in funding to help achieve the National Strategy targets for hepatitis B and hepatitis C and avoid lives lost to liver cancer. Read more
The PBAC is considering simplifying the PBS listing of the direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C as the latest prescribing data continues to show a sustained slowdown in utilisation. Read more
Cary (left) brings decades of experience in public health programmes and health policy at the national and international levels. Read more
Having served on the executive board of the WHA since 2014 as a regional representative for the PAHO region, Dr. Su Wang (right) has been appointed WHA President-elect. Read more
Study finds that direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatments for hepatitis C are associated with a reduced risk of mortality and liver cancer. Read more
Hepatitis Australia has raised concerns about the "unintended consequences" of the proposed new PBS cost recovery fee structure and the "new processes they purport to fund." Read more
The findings of the study mean that “treatment with direct-acting antivirals is associated with reduced risk for mortality and hepatocellular carcinoma and should be considered in all patients with chronic HCV infection” Read more
The Australian Government has released updated guidelines for healthcare workers doing exposure prone procedures and for healthcare workers living with a blood-borne virus. Read more
"Prisoners who are treated for their blood-borne diseases (think HIV and hepatitis) do better on release than those who languish without care.’" Read more
This article from The Lancet sets out to appraise the current global situation and to identify priorities—for countries, regions, and globally—to accelerate efforts towards these ambitious targets. Read more