Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are the most prevalent blood-borne illnesses in Australia. Viral hepatitis is the second leading cause of death from infectious disease globally, according to the World Health Organisation .
Hepatitis NSW, the state's peak hepatitis community organisation, is committed to achieving a world free of viral hepatitis by 2028. There is a cure for hep C and a vaccine and effective treatments for hepatitis B. We need to get them to the people who need them.
While NSW has made great progress in efforts towards elimination of hepatitis C in particular, it is time to refocus and renew action to make elimination a reality in 2030
Speaking in the lead up to World Hepatitis Day on Sunday 28 July, Hepatitis NSW CEO Associate Professor Steven Drew said:
"We have a lot to celebrate. In the course a single generation a life-threatening disease – hepatitis C – has been discovered and a highly effective, simple cure developed.
"Starting treatment is easy and affordable. The treatment is on the PBS, so out-of-pocket expenses are now even lower with the reduction in the cost of the PBS co-payment," he says.
"People don't have to live with the risk of liver disease and liver cancer when a simple effective cure is available. Since 2016, more than 55% of people living with hep C in NSW have received treatment using game-changing Direct Acting Antivirals (DAAs). However, 25% of people with hep C in NSW remain unaware that they have hep C and that they can be cured, taking just one pill a day for 8 or 12 weeks."
As Gren from Western Sydney said "I had hepatitis C for nearly 40 years, and I felt better almost immediately after starting on the Direct Acting Antiviral treatment. After all that time, getting cured was easy and I had more energy and started sleeping better than I had in decades. I'm back at work and I'm even enjoying that."
The challenge in achieving elimination is in reaching those people living with hepatitis C, but not currently engaged or interested, for whatever reason, Associate Professor Drew says.
"To achieve elimination, we know that we must reach more broadly and more deeply into diverse communities. Emerging research highlights changing priority populations, as well as hidden and disenfranchised groups. These groups are not homogenous. We need to find out what motivates people to get tested and what the barriers are. We need to develop our messages and programs to respond accordingly.
Reflecting on NSW success to date in moving towards HCV elimination in Australia, local gastroenterologist Dr Joe Lawler says,
"We cannot forget the excess burden of disease carried by our First Nations population who make up about 40% of new Hepatitis C notifications today. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples also endure a greater prevalence of chronic Hepatitis B infection and it's critical to focus on this population to address these inequities."
Steven Drew also highlights the great advances in the number and type of ways to test for hep C.
"Testing is easier, faster and takes place in community settings – a game-changer. There are fewer barriers for people to find out hep C status and to start on an improved health journey.
"Point-of-Care testing in particular adds another tool to our kit, and is a gamechanger for people living with, or at risk of hep C. It makes testing, diagnosis and treatment initiation easier, more accessible and less time consuming. Most importantly, it means people can start their journey to cure sooner," he says.
