‘The longer we wait, the greater the cost’, says Hepatitis Australia as a new report reveals the country is currently tracking to fail more than half of its targets to eliminate hepatitis.
A new economic modelling report suggests Australia could be left paying a hefty bill if it fails to meet national hepatitis elimination targets.
The report, Pathway to progress: The health and economic gains of 2030 viral hepatitis elimination, which was commissioned by Hepatitis Australia and used data from the Doherty Institute and the Kirby Institute, said failing to eliminate viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and hepatitis C) by 2030 would cost the nation $2.6 billion.
The potentially avoidable projected costs include $1.17 billion for hepatitis B ($964 million in immediate costs and $202 million in lost workforce participation, premature death, and ongoing healthcare costs) and $1.43 billion for hepatitis C ($1.39 billion in immediate costs and $40 million in downstream costs).
These costs were based on the fact that the nation is currently not anticipated to meet eight of the 10 targets to eliminate hepatitis B as well as five of the seven targets for hepatitis C.
Australia is on track to have 95% of children receive three childhood vaccinations against hepatitis B and to reduce the incidence of children under five years of age with a hepatitis B virus surface antigen of 0.1% or lower.
But the nation is not expected to meet its targets for preventing mother-to-child transmission, finding currently undiagnosed cases, reducing stigma in healthcare settings, reducing the negative impact on people’s health and wellbeing, increasing the proportion of affected people who are in care and on treatment, or reducing hepatitis B attributable mortality.
Similarly, Australia is projected to successfully reduce the incidence of hepatitis C by 90% (to 5 cases per 100 people) and identify/diagnose more than 90% of cases by 2030.
However, the report estimates it will fall short of reducing stigma in health settings, increasing the proportion of people who report a good quality of life to 95%, reduce the negative impact of people affected by the disease, cure at least 85% of cases, and reduce the hepatitis C attributable mortality by 65%.
Hepatitis Australia CEO Lucy Clynes told media that Australia needed to keep its momentum if it wanted to meet the 2030 target for viral hepatitis elimination.
“Failing to meet our hepatitis elimination targets will cost lives, increase pressure on hospitals and leave Australians carrying billions of dollars in avoidable costs,” she said.
“Hepatitis B can be managed, and hepatitis C can be cured. We have the tools, and we have had excellent engagement from the Federal Government. Now, we must continue to invest so that we can finish the job.
“That means ensuring people receive the testing, treatment, and care that could save their lives.”
Over 200,000 Australians live with hepatitis B and hepatitis C. And while the former is treatable and the latter curable, Hepatitis Australia reports that almost 1000 people died in 2023 due to these conditions.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and sex workers have been identified as priority populations for eliminating both hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
Related
People in custodial settings and people with lived or living experience of injecting drug use are also priority populations for eliminating hepatitis C.
Ms Clynes also emphasised the potential economic benefits of meeting the elimination goal, with every $1 dollar invested in hepatitis B and hepatitis C delivering an estimated return of $7 and $16, respectively.
“The federal government’s previous investment in hepatitis elimination has been highly effective, and this research shows just how much more can be achieved if we stay the course,” she said.
“The next step towards hepatitis elimination is the development of Implementation Action Plans, in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Disease Control, to map our priorities for the next four years.
“It is critical that these plans are fully funded.
“This investment will mean less liver disease, fewer preventable deaths, and fewer families losing someone they love.
“The evidence is clear. Acting now to meet our targets will save lives and avoid billions in future costs. Governments must take the next step. The longer we wait, the greater the cost.”
The full Pathway to progress report can be downloaded from the Hepatitis Australia website.
