New campaign to drive up testing for hep C

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Cameron Dick today announced more than $500,000 to increase access to FibroScan technology that provides a simple, safe and effective method of determining liver damage.

“Before doctors can prescribe new hepatitis medications, they must know the extent of damage done to the liver,” he said.

“FibroScan is a non-invasive device that allows them to do just that— assess liver stiffness in patients with chronic hepatitis.”

The Minister also announced a new campaign to raise public awareness about hepatitis C.

‘‘This government is committed to making Queenslanders amongst the healthiest people in the world and this is why I am announcing a new targeted campaign called ‘We need to talk about hep C’.

“The targeted campaign will include messages in medical centres and social media advertising and will challenge the community to question whether they may have been exposed to hepatitis C, possibly without knowing it.

‘‘It will also have a strong focus on addressing the stigma associated with hepatitis C because a lot of people think that it’s only a disease that affects those who have injected drugs.

‘‘The health of our community is everyone’s business and I’d encourage Queenslanders to speak to their doctor about hepatitis C, because treatment is now simple and effective.’’

Queenslanders living with chronic hepatitis C now have access to new treatment options with a 95 per cent cure rate.

Until now, treatment for chronic hepatitis C typically involved specialist care and a long course of medicine that often had side effects.

“Advances in direct-acting antiviral therapies mean new drugs with a cure rate of 95 per cent are now available to all people living with chronic hepatitis C.

“The first of these new treatments were made available through the PBS on 1 March 2016 and another become available on 1 May 2016.

‘‘These drugs offer a much higher rate of cure but also a shorter, less complex and much better tolerated treatments than we’ve previously had before.’’

Mr Dick reminded all adults aged between 40 and 60 years who may be at risk to speak to their GP about being tested for hepatitis C.

‘‘Australia has one of the world’s highest hepatitis C diagnosis rates,’’ he said.

‘‘However, of the 230,000 people estimated to be living with hepatitis C in Australia about 50,000 people are unaware they are living with the disease and we know that roughly 10,000 of these people live in Queensland.

‘‘All Queenslanders, particularly those aged between 40 and 60, should consider if they may have been exposed to hepatitis C and discuss being tested with their doctor at least once in their lifetime.”

Hepatitis C is spread primarily through blood contact and testing is highly recommended for people who have:

• ever injected drugs, even if it was just once or many years ago
• a backyard tattoo, home body piercing or scarification
• had a blood transfusion before 1990
• had a medical or dental procedure in the developing world
• spent time in custody
• have abnormal liver test results or liver disease
• migrants from areas of the world where the disease is more common such as Egypt, Pakistan, the southern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia.

Queenslanders with questions or concerns about hepatitis C should speak to their GP or visit the Queensland Health website.

Printed and electronic ‘We need to talk about hep C’ campaign materials, such as brochures, posters and factsheets, will be available for download via the Queensland Health website.

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT:   Laura Gowdie 0413 492 117