This page is an archive. Its content may no longer be accurate and was last updated on the original publication date. It is intended for reference and as a historical record only. For hep C questions, call Help4Hep BC at 1-888-411-7578.
Treatment for Hepatitis C became drastically more affordable this week when four new-generation medicines were added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
The government’s resolution to list the drugs means Australians with Hep C now pay just $6.20 a prescription if they are a concession card holder or $38.30 for general patients, saving patients as much as $100,0000 for treatment.
Clinicians across the country shelled out millions of dollars in prescriptions on Tuesday March 1, during the first 24 hours of the listing, securing medications which work faster, achieve higher cure rates and have far fewer side effects than any previous treatment.
Demand for the breakthrough drugs has been huge but the Health Minister Sussan Ley was quick to quell concerns about supply.
“Both patients and prescribers have keenly anticipated the availability of these new medicines, so it is little surprise to see a rapid uptake by patients,” she said.
“We expect as pent-up demand is met the rate of prescribing will reduce over time.”