Epclusa available for all Australians with hepatitis C
The Federal Government has taken another significant step to eliminate hep C from Australia by subsidising a new drug, Epclusa, which was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on August 1.
Epclusa is the first new direct acting antivirals that can be used to treat people with any genotype of hep C. This will make it simpler for doctors to prescribe this breakthrough treatment.
“We have been waiting for this moment for so long,” Hepatitis NSW chief executive Stuart Loveday said. “This will eliminate hep C in Australia within 10 to 15 years.
Currently, people with hep C would need a different treatment depending on which genotype they had, often requiring two scripts.
“Now we have a cure that is so easy more GPs will have the confidence to prescribe it,” Mr Loveday said.
Have you been holding off on hep C treatment? There has never been a better time to talk to your doctor.
