Hepatitis C testing rates have tripled in our region in the past year. Treatment rates continue to climb, thanks to a targeted program supporting GPs to identify and care for patients with the chronic health condition.
South Western Sydney GPs ranked first in NSW between April and June this year for hepatitis C treatment rates, prescribing 27 treatments, which equates to 54 per cent of total prescribed hepatitis C treatments across our region, according to the latest NSW Health report card.
During the same period, South Western Sydney primary and hospital services combined treated a total of 62 patients in the quarter, bringing the number of treated patients to date to 3,165, which represents a healthcare cost saving of just under $10 million.
The NSW Health report card also highlighted improvements in hepatitis C testing in the tertiary sector while South Western Sydney PHN data showed a three-fold increase from 1,077 tests in 2023 to 3,323 in 2024 in the primary care sector.
With an eight-to-12-week treatment course of hepatitis C now easily accessible – and 95 per cent successful – the increase in testing and treatment rates corresponds with targeted local programs aimed at empowering GPs to manage their patients who have hepatitis C within the practice.
As part of a joint South Western Sydney Local Health District and Public Health Network (PHN) hepatitis clinical support and quality improvement project, GPs and practice nurses are supported by a hepatitis clinical nurse consultant to increase the level of hepatitis C testing, as well as the treatment of people with hepatitis C.
In turn, clinical quality improvement focuses on recall, screening and treatment at-risk populations, as well as existing or newly acquired hepatitis C cases.
The PHN has also developed a GP brochure which provides essential information and supports capacity building in primary practice.
Chief executive officer Keith McDonald said the campaign to reduce hepatitis C in the community was an important one.
“It is good to see all the hard work by SWSPHN and general practices in the South Western region having an effect on the numbers,” he said.
“Congratulations on your efforts and on working towards a safer, healthier community for us all.”
The NSW Hepatitis C Strategy, 2022 to 2025, aims to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health concern in NSW by 2028.
Between 2021 and 2023 South Western Sydney had a 7.4 per cent higher prevalence of hepatitis C than the national average.
Campbelltown and Fairfield LGAs have consistently higher rates with 53 per cent and 31 per cent above the NSW average.
In 2022, an estimated 7,669 people were living in South Western Sydney with hepatitis C.
