Do you have hep C and a bleeding disorder?
Help us to tell the Australian Government what impact new hepatitis C treatments would have for you.
What’s this all about?
The Australian Government has asked for community comments about two new hepatitis C treatments, sofosbuvir and simeprevir, by 11 June 2014.
These new treatments are being evaluated by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee to see whether they are suitable to be subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (PBS).
What are these new treatments?
Sofosbuvir and simeprevir are part of the new wave of direct acting anti-viral (DAA) hepatitis C drugs. In clinical trials they had very high success rates, few side-effects, and shorter treatment courses (eg, 12 or 24 weeks). They need to be taken in combination with other medications (eg, interferon, ribavirin) to be effective.
Recommendations on how they should be used in people with hepatitis C are part of this evaluation process. Both drugs are approved for use in the United States and in Europe.
Professor Ed Gane from New Zealand explained more about these new DAAs at a recent conference in Brisbane – click here to read more.
How can you help?
We need your help to write the HFA submission on these new treatments.
It is really important to give real life examples and be able to explain what difference these treatments would make for you and others in your situation.
What would be the impact on you and your life if these treatments were available in Australia?
Click here to tell us what these treatments would mean for you
Please send us your answers by Friday 6 June 2014.
Alternatively you can email Suzanne on socallaghan@haemophilia.org.au or phone her on 1800 807 173.
Your answers will be treated confidentially.