GPs no longer need specialist accreditation to prescribe PBS-subsidised hepatitis B and C medication.
Every doctor or authorised nurse practitioner can now prescribe hepatitis B and C medicines under the PBS Highly Specialised Drugs Program without first obtaining Section 100 prescriber accreditation.
The PBS said this would improve timely access to subsidised medicines for patients, particularly in regional, rural and remote areas.
Nearly 230,000 Australians live with chronic hepatitis B – the most common blood-borne virus in Australia.
RACGP specific interests sexual and reproductive health chair Dr Sara Whitburn said removing the accreditation requirement reduced an administrative and logistical barrier that “at times may have delayed treatment initiation”.
“General practitioners routinely prescribe complex medicines,” she said.
“While the accreditation program provided valuable education and increased prescriber confidence, hepatitis B and hepatitis C management resources remain widely available.”
Dr Whitburn pointed to the RACGP’s own hepatitis B and C guidelines for general practice and the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM)’s management and care of hepatitis B resource.
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However, hepatitis C medicines under the highly specialised drug program will still require the patient to receive treatment in a hospital setting.
GPs will also still need to provide evidence of the patient’s chronic infection, prior treatment details, and proof of the patient’s cirrhotic status.
ASHM CEO Alexis Apostolellis said chronic hepatitis B management remained largely concentrated in specialist settings, where some hospital waitlists exceed two years, despite timely access to antiviral treatment being critical to preventing serious health complications.
In 2021, more than 75% of hepatitis B treatments were prescribed by specialists.
“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,” he said.
