GPs (in discussion with a specialist) can now prescribe a number of newly PBS subsided medicines for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. High demand for these new medicines is anticipated with about 230,000 Australians currently living with hepatitis C.

The information on this page provides guidance when treating, managing and referring patients with hepatitis C.

Clinical resources

• Murray HealthPathways
• Managing hepatitis C in primary care | Free module for GPs, Pharmacists, Nurses and Students, by NPS Medicinewise  
• PBS General Statement for Drugs for the Treatment of Hepatitis C | Criteria to determine patient eligibility for subsidisation under the PBS
• PBS Hepatitis C Medicines Fact Sheet for Community Based Prescribers
• PBS Hepatitis C Medicines Fact Sheet for Community Pharmacy Dispenser

Tools

• Clinical guidance for treating hepatitis C virus infection a summary
• HEP Drug Interaction Checker
• AST to Platelet Ration Index (APRI) Calculator |  This tool calculates a patient's AST to Platelet Ratio Index

For patients

• Liverwell
• General Statement for Drugs for the Treatment of Hepatitis C
• Hep C and You: A User Guide to the Latest Information (Jan 2017)
• The Hep C Handbook (Aug 2016)

Acknowledgements

The Victorian PHN Alliance is the collective platform for the six PHNs in Victoria. The Alliance has been provided with a one-off grant for 2016/17 by the Victorian State Government Department of Health and Human Services to support the accelerated uptake of new hepatitis C drug treatments.

Murray PHN Hep C project contacts

• Hep C Murray HealthPathways development | Dr Margi Gould, Clinical Editor and Sally Coates, Primary Care Coordinator
• CPD coordination | Emma Healion, Workforce Development Coordinator
• Project Coordinator | Aida Escall, Manager Primary Health Outcomes