Govt to invest $1b in hep C cures

Health Minister Sussan Ley has announced a $1 billion subsidy for new medicines that can cure hepatitis C, which kills about 700 Australians a year.

TACKLING HEPATITIS C

* Hepatitis C damages the liver, leading to liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver cancer and liver failure.

* About 230,000 Australians are living with the disease

* Complications kill about 700 a year

* Government has approved the PBS listing of four new generation treatments

* Cost to fall from $100,000 to $6.10 for concessional patients and $37.70 for others

* In most cases medicines will be taken orally for 8-12 weeks

* Health Minister Sussan Ley says cure rate is more than 90 per cent

SOURCE: Federal Government