World Hepatitis Day

World Hepatitis Day is marked worldwide on 28 July, and is part of a global commitment to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030.

WHY MISS OUT ON A HEP C CURE?

New revolutionary hepatitis C treatments are now available in Australia, with very high cure rates and few, if any, side-effects.

More than 60,000 Australians have now been cured of hepatitis C. But around 170,000 are missing out.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT PEOPLE WITH BLEEDING DISORDERS?

In the 1970s and 1980s many people with bleeding disorders in Australia acquired hepatitis C from blood products for their treatment, especially plasma-derived clotting factor concentrates. Blood supply testing and viral inactivation manufacturing processes were introduced by 1993 and the risk of infection from human blood products is now extremely low.

We are pleased to hear from Haemophilia Treatment Centres that most people with bleeding disorders have now been treated and cured of their hep C.

However, there are still some people with bleeding disorders who have not yet taken up treatment – or perhaps don't even know they have hep C.

WHO IS AT RISK?

If you received a blood product before 1993 – even as a baby – you could be at risk.
Have you ever been tested for hep C?

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

Spread the message – if this is you, or someone you know, now is the time to do something about hepatitis C testing and treatment
If you have a bleeding disorder and want to discuss hep C with your local doctor, show them the AHCDO/HFA GP fact sheet on hepatitis C and bleeding disorders.
Don't miss out on a cure!

MORE NEW TREATMENTS

A new hepatitis C treatment, Maviret®, was added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) on 1 August 2018. The treatment course for Maviret® is 3 tablets once a day for 8 weeks and is suitable for all genotypes, including people with cirrhosis. It is a valuable additional treatment option for the small number of people who were not cured with their first round of DAA treatment.

In 2016 Australia became a world leader in access to new treatments to cure hepatitis C. These treatments are subsidised under the PBS and available via prescription by a general practitioner (GP) or specialist.

People with bleeding disorders and hepatitis C are now encouraged to talk to their Haemophilia Treatment Centre or GP to see what see what arrangements can be made to have their hep C tests and treatments locally. The GP fact sheet on bleeding disorders and hep C has been developed by the Australian Haemophilia Centre Directors’ Organisation and HFA to support this and can be downloaded from the HFA website, under PUBLICATIONS.

As a Partner in the national World Hepatitis Day Campaign, HFA works with Hepatitis Australia and State and Territory Foundations on the annual national awareness campaign and is committed to making a difference on hepatitis C in Australia.

For more information, visit the HFA World Hepatitis Day page.

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