A telehealth service is using MediRecords and Coviu to find patients who don’t know they have it or haven’t sought treatment.
Patients with hepatitis C will be able to access free testing, remote consultations and treatment through a new national service operated by Hepatitis Australia with support from MediRecords and Coviu technology.
The service uses MediRecords’ secure cloud technology and the Coviu telehealth platform and is funded by the Australian Centre for Disease Control.
People with viral hepatitis – most commonly hepatitis B and C in Australia – can access hepatitis information and support through HepLink.
Those patients who have, or think they might have, hepatitis C can also access fully bulk-billed telehealth consultations.
The HepLink Hepatitis C Telehealth Service gives people with hepatitis C access to information about hepatitis C testing, help arranging blood tests, virtual clinical consultations and prescription drug treatment.
The telehealth service is currently only available for hepatitis C, as hepatitis B is more complex to treat and requires in-person consultations, a Hepatitis Australia spokesperson told HSD.
MediRecords CEO Matthew Galetto said digital health platforms enabled wider access to care for people who may otherwise “fall through the cracks”.
“Digital care models are essential to reaching patients who may not present through traditional healthcare pathways,” he said.
“By supporting HepLink with secure cloud infrastructure and integrated telehealth capability, we’re helping enable a scalable national approach to hepatitis C care.”
In 2016, several direct-acting antiviral agents for hepatitis C – which are highly effective and cure around 95% of cases – were listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Since then, the number of people with chronic hepatitis C in Australia has fallen by 60% and the number of deaths has dropped significantly.
However, there are still many patients who either do not know they have the disease or have not been treated.
Hepatitis Australia CEO Lucy Clynes said that since 2016 more than 100,000 Australians had accessed treatment for hepatitis C and almost 100,000 had been cured of the disease.
“That is one of the most significant public health achievements in a generation,” she said.
“But around 63,000 Australians are still living with hepatitis C, and many are unaware they have it or are not currently connected to care.
“HepLink helps close that gap by making testing, treatment and expert support easier to access from anywhere in the country.”
Ms Clynes said initiatives such as HepLink would help Australia achieve its goal of eliminating hepatitis C.
“We now have the tools to cure hepatitis C quickly and safely.
“The challenge is ensuring people know about the cure and can access care when they need it.
“HepLink helps ensure no one misses the opportunity to be tested and treated.”
If left untreated, hepatitis C can develop into liver cancer or liver disease. Deaths from liver cancer are increasing at a faster rate than any other type of cancer in Australia.
Between 1982 and 2019 the incidence of liver cancer increased 378% and the mortality rate rose 20.4%, according to the Cancer Council.
Meanwhile, the Australian Centre for Disease Control launched the National Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Strategies 2026 to 2030 today.
The strategies include $23.7 million to support on-the-ground hepatitis B and C initiatives, including for point-of-care testing, treatment and care, and pilot hepatitis B programs; and $51.7 million over three years to continue the national viral hepatitis elimination program.
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Rebecca Whitesaid the strategies prioritised earlier testing, faster diagnosis and ensuring people could access treatment and care without barriers.
“We know stigma and access are still real challenges, which is why this work prioritises community-led, culturally safe care,” Ms White said.
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“This investment by the Albanese Government is about expanding testing, strengthening care and getting us closer to eliminating viral hepatitis in Australia.
“People with lived experience, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, community and peer organisations, clinicians, researchers and state and territory governments all contributed to shaping the strategies.
“This extensive consultation means they are grounded in evidence, informed by lived experience and responsive to the diverse needs of communities across Australia.
“Using these two strategies as our compass, Australia can deliver one of the world’s most successful viral hepatitis elimination efforts.”
Hepatitis Australia’s Ms Clynes said Australia has made extraordinary progress in tackling hepatitis.
“Universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns has protected Australian families for more than a quarter of a century, while life-saving hepatitis C cures made available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme have completely transformed treatment for thousands of Australians.
“Our hepatitis B vaccine is safe, highly effective and one of the most important tools we’ve ever had to prevent lifelong liver disease. Thanks to universal vaccination, Australia has dramatically reduced hepatitis B infections in children.
“The new National Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Strategies build on this success and provide an important roadmap for the next phase of the response.
“By expanding testing, strengthening prevention and primary care and improving access to treatment, Australia can continue the momentum toward eliminating hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.”
