Hepatitis C New Treatments Course

This course will cover patient assessment, screening for cirrhotic status, management of comorbidities, treatment choice and monitoring.

This comprehensive course aims to increase participants’ knowledge, skills and confidence when prescribing the new direct acting antivirals (DAAs) in accordance with the PBS requirements or when advising patients about the new therapies.

Please note that attendees who are not AHPRA registered GPs may be placed on a wait list following confirmation of attendance.

New highly effective interferon-free hepatitis C medicines that are well tolerated were made available on the PBS General Schedule (‘Section 85’) from 1 March 2016. General practitioners and other medical practitioners can prescribe these treatments. The target of eliminating hepatitis C in Australia by 2026 can be achieved through increased treatment uptake.

The course will be delivered in two parts:

Part 1 consists of an eLearning component and part 2 consists of an interactive face-to-face workshop utilising experts in hepatitis C treatment to facilitate case discussions..

Target Audience:

For GPs, other Medical Practitioners & Nurse Practitioners working in General Practice, Aboriginal Health, Drug and Alcohol and Correctional settings, who wish to prescribe HCV treatment independent of specialist approval.

For Further Information:

Michelle Kwok (Project Support Officer)
T 0431 320 429
E michelle.kwok@ashm.org.au

Learning outcomes:

• Screen at risk patients, order and interpret tests appropriately to diagnose chronic hepatitis C infection

• Perform the recommended baseline assessment including assessing liver disease severity and screening for potential drug-drug interactions, evaluate patient treatment readiness and manage any associated comorbidities

• Explain approved antiviral treatment options and duration of therapy for all HCV genotypes based on prior treatment experience and cirrhotic status

• Prescribe HCV antiviral therapy in accordance with PBS patient and prescriber eligibility criteria

• Recognise risk factors, clinical signs, symptoms and complications of advanced liver disease and manage or refer to specialist care appropriately