From today, Australian clinicians will no longer need to obtain specialist accreditation to prescribe hepatitis B antiviral prescriptions. This change comes after years of advocacy from peak bodies and patient advocacy groups to improve access to treatments for people living with hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B is the most common blood-borne virus in Australia with nearly 230,000 people in Australia living with chronic hepatitis B. If not managed properly, it can lead to serious liver disease or liver cancer. The change will mean all medical and authorised nurse practitioners are able to prescribe PBS-subsidised antiviral medicines for eligible patients, reducing barriers to care.
Currently, only one in four people living with chronic hepatitis B are receiving guideline-recommended clinical care and less than half of those eligible for treatment are receiving it[i]. Expanding prescribing to all medical and nurse practitioners will remove barriers to treatment, improve access to life-saving care, and support Australia’s efforts to achieve the 2030 hepatitis B elimination targets.
ASHM CEO, Alexis Apostolellis, is optimistic the change will strengthen the role of primary care in hepatitis B management. With specialists currently writing more than 75% of Australia’s hepatitis B treatment in 20211, he said the reform will reduce reliance on specialist services.
“While we have seen growing involvement from primary care in the management of chronic hepatitis B, care is still largely concentrated in specialist settings where some hospitals have waitlists that exceed two years,” said Mr Apostolellis. “By allowing more GPs and nurse practitioners to prescribe hepatitis B treatments, we can bring care closer to home, reduce pressure on specialist clinics, and help more Australians access the treatment and monitoring they need.”
Timely access to hepatitis B antiviral treatment is critical to preventing liver flares, liver damage and other serious health complications. There are devastating consequences that can result when continuity of treatment is disrupted.
Hepatitis Australia CEO Lucy Clynes said that this change will enable people living with hepatitis B to access care from the providers they trust.
“With only one in four people with hepatitis B receiving the care they need, making access simple is essential. Many people with hepatitis B rely on GPs who speak their language or are close to home. This change means they can access care through the providers they already know and trust, just as they would for any other chronic condition,” said Ms Clynes. “The first functional cures are on the horizon, but they will be most effective for people whose hepatitis B is well managed.”
Removing the accreditation requirement will help ensure that more clinicians can confidently prescribe and continue treatment, strengthening access to care and helping prevent avoidable illness and deaths among people living with chronic hepatitis B. ASHM will continue to offer clinical education, support and expert guidance to support hepatitis B prescribing in primary care.
