Budget announcement marks major investment in HIV, BBVs and STIs
ASHM welcomes news from the federal budget of a $126.5 million investment over two years to support the prevention, testing and treatment of blood-borne viruses (BBVs) and STIs, alongside a $43.9 million investment to implement the recommendations of the HIV Taskforce. This announcement represents a significant investment by the federal government in the national response […]
Trust imperative for reaching multicultural communities with hepatitis B care
In Australia, chronic hepatitis B disproportionately affects people born overseas. More than two-thirds of those living with the infection were born overseas or are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is therefore vital that hepatitis B programs, services and care are culturally appropriate and safe. If Australia is to reach its hepatitis B treatment […]
Preparing for PrEP in Papua New Guinea
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has been a game changer for HIV prevention. In Australia, biomedical HIV prevention strategies, including PrEP and treatment as prevention, have been instrumental in the significant declines in HIV transmission we have seen over the last ten years. However, rolling out a drug regime like PrEP can be complex. And while […]
Access to HIV treatment for people without Medicare
Access to HIV treatment for people without Medicare Australia has transitioned from an industry-sponsored antiretroviral treatment (ART) compassionate access scheme to a Federation Funding Agreement (FFA) model that provides free or affordable access to ART for people with HIV who do not have Medicare. The states and territories have transitioned to a new scheme whereby […]
NSW Hepatitis C Remote Prescribing Program
The NSW Hepatitis C Remote Prescribing Program was established in November 2020 to facilitate linkages between nurses who perform the patient assessment and medical practitioners/nurse practitioners who initiate hepatitis C treatment. The program aims to increase access to hepatitis C treatment in NSW in regional areas and other settings where treatment may be limited. Further […]
Calls for primary care treatment for people living with hepatitis B
Clinicians are being urged to consider referring hepatitis B patients to primary care providers for care, when clinically appropriate as new data reveals Australia is lagging behind its treatment targets for people living with chronic hepatitis B. The Viral Hepatitis Mapping Project: Hepatitis B published by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis Epidemiology, The […]
People without Medicare now able to access free or subsidised HIV treatment from the government
People without Medicare can now access government-funded HIV treatment, after a $39 million investment from the federal government. Under the new funding model, people with HIV without Medicare will access free or subsidised treatment from hospital pharmacies or sexual health clinics, depending on which state or territory they live in. Previously, people with HIV without […]
Hepatitis B Voices Australia – New national community led organisation
This World Liver Day ASHM is pleased to support and share Hepatitis B Voices Australia (HBVA) the first Australian hepatitis B community organisation – led by people affected by hepatitis B. November 2022 marked the launch of HBVA, an independent, not for profit, community-led organisation that supports, represents and advocates for the health and well-being […]
Introducing Vital Voices: A new website presenting personal experiences of hepatitis C
Vitalvoicesonhepc.org is Australia’s first dedicated website presenting carefully researched personal stories of hepatitis C, treatment and life after cure. The website has two aims. First, it aims to support people living with hepatitis C in thinking about and/or having treatment. Second, it aims to inform the public about hepatitis C and what can be done about […]
National Roundtable for Nurses: Hepatitis C treatment for Medicare ineligible patients
On the 27th of June, ASHM successfully held a national roundtable for Nurses as a follow-up to the recommendations report released from the national roundtable in 2021 on hepatitis C treatment for people without access to Medicare. Funded by Queensland Health, this session aimed to progress the recommendations through hearing the voices of Nurses and […]
