Calming the C E NEED FOR • Information and support in a confidential, TH D N A 9 -1 ID V CO O T DUE friendly environment CALMING THE LL A , G N CI N TA IS D L SOCIA • Speak to others who have had SPENDED SUtreatment BEENwelcome E friends HAV SSIONS • Partners, family and C SE OTICE: UNTIL FURTHER N 7 222 Please ring 1800 43 ation for hepatitis inform
•
Hutt Street Day Centre: 258 Hutt St, Adelaide SA 5000; call Margery on 0423 782 415 to make an appointment • Information and support friendly environment • WestCare Services: 11/19 19 DVI CO TO E DU • Speak to others Millers Ct, Adelaide SA 5000;who hav R 415 FO Partners, and frien call on ED 0423 family 782 THE• NE DMargery AN , to make an appointment NG SOCIAL DISTANCI •
Now meeting at HACKNEY, ELIZABETH and PORT ADELAIDE Call Us! For information, phone 8362 8443 Free, confidential information See over for dates and support on viral hepatitis:
C
CLINIC Wonggangga L LIVERTurtpandi AL Aboriginal Primary Health SESSIONS HAVE Care Service (Pt Adelaide meeting ENDEDat HACKN SP SU st BEEN1Now CNP); Wednesday of each and PORT ADE L FURTHE month, amR , 11 UNTI9.30–11.30 ChurchNO St, For Port Adelaide SA : TICE information, phon 5015
•
•
1800 437 222
Calming
Free Fibroscan Clinics
ring See over for
e Pleas Anglicare Elizabeth Mission; 7 22 18001443 17 April, Aug, 132Nov, 9.30am –12 pmpa , 91-93 titisElizabeth he for Way Elizabeth (Bookings via mation for in reception in person, or call 8209 5400) Noarlunga GP Plus; fortnightly, Alexander Kelly Dr, Noarlunga Centre SA 5168 (Bookings via Noarlunga CNP
Changes to PBS for easier hepatitis treatment
hanges to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 April will benefit a number of community groups affected by viral hepatitis.
Firstly, younger Australians— those over 12 years of age—are now able to access direct acting anti-viral (DAA) medication to treat hepatitis C. While a relatively small percentage of the population who live with hepatitis C, these many young Australians were still understandably keen
to be cured of the virus. It is very good news that the age restriction for under-18s has now been changed.
Another change sees the removal of mandatory genotype testing. In the early days of DAA treatment, when the medications could only treat specific hepatitis C genotypes, it was important for specialists and treating GPs to know their patient’s genotype—that way they could prescribe the correct treatment. Pangenotypic DAAs (which work regardless of
genotype) have been available for some time now and the requirement for genotype testing added an unneeded extra step for people wanting to start treatment.
Finally, Nurse Practitioners (registered nurses with authority to work in an extended clinical role) can now prescribe s100 medicines for the care and management of people living with HIV and hepatitis B in the community, and also hepatitis C in corrective services settings. v
April 2020 • HEPATITIS SA COMMUNITY NEWS 85
13
