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Increased choice and increased access, peak bodies welcome removal of accreditation to Hepatitis B medications

Hepatitis Australia - ASHM

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.

For more information on the changes please visit: Important changes to Hepatitis B s100 prescriber accreditation | ASHM Health

 Patients, their families and healthcare providers can get confidential, free support for hepatitis B by contacting HepLink on 1800 437 222 or www.heplink.au

About us:

About ASHM

ASHM, formerly the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexual Health Medicine, is a peak organisation for health workers and medical professionals who work in HIV, blood borne viruses (BBVs), and sexual and reproductive health (SRH). ASHM draws on its experience and expertise to support the health workforce and to contribute to the sector, domestically and internationally. ASHM is a professional, not-for-profit, member-based organisation. It supports its members, sector partners and collaborators to generate knowledge and action in clinical management and research, education, policy and advocacy in Australasia.

About Hepatitis Australia

Hepatitis Australia is the national peak community organisation working to eliminate hepatitis B and hepatitis C in Australia. It represents eight state and territory community hepatitis organisations and advocates for the rights, health and dignity of the nearly 300,000 people in Australia affected by viral hepatitis.

About Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can cause both acute and chronic liver disease. It can be passed on through blood-to-blood contact, from parent to child during pregnancy or childbirth, or unprotected sex. Hepatitis B is not spread by casual contact such as hugging or holding hands, kissing on the cheek, coughing or sneezing, or sharing food or utensils. When the immune system cannot clear the virus, hepatitis B becomes a lifelong chronic condition that can lead to liver damage and is a key driver of Australia’s rising liver cancer rates. Antiviral medicines can suppress the virus and protect the liver and to prevent long term health effects. 

For more information on hepatitis B in Australia, please visit the Fourth National Hepatitis B Strategy 2025–2030 at: https://www.cdc.gov.au/resources/publications/fourth-national-hepatitis-b-strategy-2025-2030  

Contact details:

Jared Croft, ASHM - 0421 776 981 - [email protected]

 Darren Rodrigo, Hepatitis Australia - 0414 783 405 - [email protected]