Prescribing of direct‐acting antiviral therapy by general practitioners for people with hepatitis C in an unrestricted treatment program

Abstract

In Australia, highly effective directacting antiviral (DAA) therapy has been available for people with chronic hepatitis C through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) since March 2016. All clinicians, including general practitioners, have prescribing authority.1 In many countries, DAA prescribing is restricted to specific medical specialties,2 creating barriers to treatment by disrupting the cascade of care and limiting access for those unable or unwilling to attend specialist services.3 In this study, we characterised DAA prescribing by GPs in the Australian model of DAA access.